Trinidad and Tobago gospel reggae artist Joel "Positive" Murray was the big winner, carting off eight Marlin Awards from the 2014 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards. He was nominated in 13 categories.
"Positive" took home the most coveted Marlin for album of the year for his sophomore full length disc "Forever My King"; dub recording of the year, "Let Me Be the One", featuring Niki Rymple; music video of the year-duo/group for "Let Me Be the One"; reggae vocal performance of the year-duo/group for "Let Me Be the One"; reggae vocal performance of the year (male) for "Better Must Come"; soca recording of the year for "Blessing After Blessing" and song of the year for "Blessing After Blessing".
The Trinidadian made history as the artist to win the most Marlin Awards in one evening. Jamaican Reggae and praise and worship recording artist Jermaine Edwards won five awards during the 2010 Marlin Awards.
The late Kevan "Kevi Kev" McKenzie, who was nominated for five awards, which made him the first posthumous nominated artist in Marlin Awards history won two awards -- compilation, mixtape or social event recording of the year for "From My Heart to Yours -- The Greatest Hits of Kevan 'Kevi Kev' McKenzie"; and rake 'n' scrape recording of the year for the song "Don't Complain" featuring Dynamite Daisy.
Trinidad and Tobago's Avion Blackman also took home two Marlins for music video of the year (female) for "Third World Girl" and reggae-pop recording of the year for reggae music.
His countrywoman, Trinidad and Tobago's Kezie Peters, walked away with two of the coveted awards, adapted traditional recording of the year for her rendition of the classic hymn "I Surrender All" and contemporary vocal performance of the year female for the title track of her debut CD "Music Over Me".
Rizon, also from Trinidad and Tobago, carted off two Marlins dance recording of the year for "Higher Level" and music video of the year (male) for "No Entry".
Other top winners included Jamaican praise and worship recording artist Kevin Downswell with two awards for contemporary recording of the year for his power ballad "If It's Not You" and praise and worship recording of the year for "More of You".
Bahamian hip hop artist Bruce Hyppe also secured two Marlin wins. The Grand Bahama-based youth pastor won the hip hop recording of the year category and hip hop vocal performance of the year-solo for his single "Wish I Didn't Do It".
Bahamian gospel legend, the late Kevan McKenzie, also won two awards and was the first artist to ever win an award posthumously. He won for compilation, mixtape or special event recording of the year for his double disc album "From My Heart to Yours -- The Greatest Hits of Kevan 'Kevi Kev' McKenzie" and rake 'n' scrape recording of the year for the single "Don't Complain" featuring Lynn Terez Davis-Nixon.
Davis-Nixon also won an individual award for pop vocal performance of the year for the title track of her debut album "Beautiful". Davis-Nixon is known for her alter-ego character and personality Dynamite Daisy.
Several newcomers also won Marlins this year including Bahamian singing sensation Shanique Thurston, who won her first award for traditional vocal performance of the year (female) for her version of the church classic "Tis So Sweet"; Robyn Hinds from the Turks and Caicos Islands won the traditional recording of the year category for her original song "Jesus" and made history as the first artist from Turks and Caicos to win a Marlin Award.
Nehemiah Hield, former lead singer for Grammy Award-winning band Baha Men and Praise and Worship Leader at Mt. Tabor Church won his second Marlin Award for Junkanoo vocal/rake 'n' scrape vocal performance for his single "One More Hallelujah". He won his first Marlin Award 10 years ago in 2004.
Also winning from The Bahamas was first time recording artist Archdeacon James Palacious, who won his first Marlin Award for traditional vocal performance-duo/group for the song "A Wonderful Savior is Jesus, My Lord" that features legendary singer Marvin Henfield.
College of The Bahamas lecturer and singer/songwriter Colyn Major also won his first award for traditional vocal performance of the year (male) for his version of "I Surrender All"; additionally, well known preacher and senior pastor at Five Porches Church Bishop, J.Rodney Roberts, and his Apostolic Mass Choir won the award this year for Junkanoo recording of the year for their popular single "Apostolic Praise Medley". Rounding out the list of Bahamians who were successful in winning an award was Japheth "Lyrically Blessed" Ferguson who won the inspirational recording of the year category for his smash single "I'm Still Here". Stefan "The Scientist" Moss and activist and songwriter Terneille Burrows AKA TaDa won a Marlin Award for deejay collaboration vocal performance of the year for their single "Rise 242".
The 2014 Rev. Arthur Preacher Rolle Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to local gospel legends, Touched. The group was known for their national evangelistic concerts and appearances, recorded and released an album called "New Song" in the mid-1980s, which was an eclectic mix of funk, smooth jazz, rock, pop, reggae and blues. The initial members of the group were Leroy "Tinkle" Hanna, Michael "Sarge" Hanna, Timothy Treco and Dannie Wilson. Shortly after formation, the group acknowledged the need for additional members to carry out the functions for which they were formed -- evangelism through music. Just after recording the album, "Ola", Treco and Jasmin Rodgers-Major, Stephanie Hanna-Lunn, Dave Hanna and Bernard "Snucky" Miller were added.
Veteran gospel radio announcer, promoter and gospel video jockey, Jamie Thomas from Trinidad and Tobago, received the 2014 President's Award for his outstanding contribution toward the advancement and development of Caribbean gospel music.
The Marlin Awards that were held at the Bahamas Faith Ministries (BFM) Diplomat Center, Carmichael Road on Saturday, July 26 are considered to be a leader in the arena of Caribbean Gospel Music.
They were founded by Kevin Harris in 1996, celebrates its 18th anniversary this year. The first award show was held on March 16, 1996 in the Le Cabaret Theatre (Atlantis Theatre) on Paradise Island.
The awards ceremony, which started out with only 16 categories, now offers awards in some 50-plus categories.

2014 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards Results
Adapted Traditional Recording of the Year
"I Surrender All", Kezie Peters
Album of the Year
"Forever My King", Positive
Calypso Recording of the Year
"Magnet", Sean Daniel
Calypso-Soca Vocal Performance of the Year (Duo/Group)
"We Now Start", Sherwin Gardner featuring J. Prince
Calypso-Soca Vocal Performance of the Year (Female)
"Hallelujah", Harrella H. Goodwin
Calypso-Soca Vocal Performance of the Year (Male)
"Blessing Me", Isaac Blackman
Choir-Chorale Recording of the Year
"Hope In You", Gates Praise-1st Church of the Open Bible
Compilation, Mixtape or Special Event Recording of the Year
"From My Heart to Yours" -- The Greatest Hits of Kevan "Kevi Kev" McKenzie, Kevan McKenzie
Contemporary Recording of the Year
"If It's Not You", Kevin Downswell
Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year (Duo/Group)
"Thank You", Chesternique featuring Sammi Starr
Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year (Female)
"Music Over Me", Kezie Peters
Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year (Male)
"There Is No Way", Sammi Starr
Dance Recording of the Year
"Higher Level", Rizon
Dancehall Recording of the Year
"Cut It Off", DJ Nicholas
DJ Collaboration with Vocal Performance of the Year
"Rise 242", Stefan "the Scientist" featuring TaDa
DJ Vocal Performance of the Year
"Hot", Stitchie
Dub Recording of the Year
"Let Me Be The One", Positive featuring Niki Rymple
Foreign Language Recording of the Year
"Jou AP Pase", The Believers
Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
"Wish I Didn't Do It", Bruce Hyppe
Hip-Hop Sung Collaboration of the Year
"Hide Away", Antus Keith featuring Lyndon Lai Tan
Hip-Hop Vocal Performance of the Year (Duo/Group)
"We Alright", Halle featuring Stacs
Hip-Hop Vocal Performance of the Year (Solo)
"Wish I Didn't Do It", Bruce Hyppe
Inspirational Recording of the Year
"I'M Still Here", Lyrically Blessed
International Caribbean Album of the Year
"Rock Steady," Solomon Jabby
International Caribbean Recording of the Year
"Step Into The Light", Roge Abergel and Kingdom Culture, featuring Nigel Lewis
Junkanoo Recording of the Year
Apostolic Praise Medley, Bishop J. Rodney Roberts and The Apostolic Mass Choir
Junkanoo-Rake 'n' Scrape Vocal Performance of the Year
"One More Hallelujah", Nehemiah, featuring Stevie S
Music Video of the Year (Duo/Group)
"Let Me Be The One", Positive, featuring Nikki Rymple
Music Video of the Year (Female)
"Third World Girl", Avion Blackman
Music Video of the Year (Male)
"No Entry", Rizon
New Artist of the Year
"Lytie", Jamaica
Packaging of the Year
"School Of Volume", DJ Nicholas
Pop Recording of the Year
"If We Die", Shem Meluce, featuring Linda "Chocolate" Berthier
Pop Vocal Performance of the Year
"Beautiful", Lynn Terez Davis
Praise & Worship Recording of the Year
"More (Says The Lord)", Kevin Downswell
Producer of the Year
Reuel Lynch
Rake 'n' Scrape Recording of the Year
"Don't Complain", Kevan McKenzie, featuring Dynamite Daisy
Reggae Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
"I AM Gospel", J Square
Reggae Recording of the Year
"Sweeter", Positive
Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year (Duo/Group)
"Let Me Be the One", Positive, featuring Nikki Rymple
Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year (Female)
"Rescue", Kristine Alicia
Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year (Male)
"Better Must Come", Positive
Reggae-Pop Recording of the Year
"Reggae Music", Avion Blackman
Rock Recording of the Year
"Last Days", Kerron Ennis
Soca Recording of the Year
"Blessing After Blessing", Positive
Song of the Year
"Blessing After Blessing", Positive
Traditional Recording of the Year
"Jesus", Robyn Hinds
Traditional Vocal Performance of the Year (Duo/Group)
"A Wonderful Savior Is Jesus, My Lord", James Palacious, featuring Marvin Henfield
Traditional Vocal Performance of the Year (Female)
"Tis' So Sweet", Shanique Thurston
Traditional Vocal Performance of the Year (Male)
"I Surrender All", Colyn Major

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