Heather Cummings Honored at Jamaicas 2026 Excellence in Music Ceremony

The Excellence in Music Ceremony 2026, organized by Back 2 Da Future Music Limited in partnership with Royalty Network Inc., will honor media personality, artist, podcaster and businesswoman Heather Cummings on Tuesday, September 15 at The Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston. The event, the sixth staging of what was formerly called the Grammy Certificate Ceremony, will recognize contributors to Grammy‑winning and Grammy‑nominated projects and will also award British Phonographic Industry (BPI)‑certified silver, gold, platinum and multi‑platinum discs to selected honorees.

Cummings, a veteran backing vocalist, has worked with reggae and dancehall giants such as Shaggy, Sanchez, Luciano, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, Beres Hammond, Sly & Robbie, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Buju Banton and Maxi Priest. Her harmonies can be heard on Shaggy’s album Clothes Drop (hook on the title track), Sanchez’s Never dis the Man and the gospel album Who is this Man, Luciano’s Sweep Over My Soul, Fab Five’s Good Buddy, Psalm 23, Buju Banton’s Magic City, Benjy Myaz’s Give it up, and several soca hits by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires.

A graduate of Church Teachers’ College and the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Cummings began touring with Black Uhuru in Europe while working in media. The experience led to tours with other artists and eventually to a solo career. In a recent interview with 5 Questions With…, she explained that the key to being a great background vocalist is “paying keen attention to details in the preparation process, listening to and studying each song carefully to ensure that the right texture and flavour are added.” She also noted that she earned nicknames such as Fedda Map, Fedda and Fedda Weight from Buju Banton, Maxi Priest and Dean Fraser, respectively.

Dean Fraser, the legendary saxophonist, was a mentor to Cummings in the early 1990s. He taught her vocal techniques and the importance of discipline in studio and live settings. Cummings said that his strict approach helped her “nailed the project” when he gave her a nod of approval.

Cummings has also pursued a career in radio. She hosted the weather segment and the show Kool Rhythms on Kool 97 FM, a role that she says “intertwines beautifully with singing.” She balances her broadcasting work with her music and her role as a mother, and she is now exploring opportunities in advertising production, talent and booking agency.

Her work on Grammy‑winning and nominated projects earned her four certificates last year. The certificates were for Shaggy’s Clothes Drop (nominated), Sizzla’s The Messiah (nominated), Beenie Man’s Art and Life (nominated) and Sly & Robbie’s Friends (winner). This year she will receive a certificate for Beres Hammond’s One Love, One Life.

Cummings has also begun releasing her own material, including the single “People Change.” She says the motivation for stepping into a solo role was a desire to “directly touch and heal others.” Her music is described as carrying hope and healing, a message she emphasizes in her songwriting.

The Excellence in Music Ceremony’s return to Jamaica underscores the country’s role as a hub for reggae and dancehall production. By awarding both Grammy certificates and BPI discs, the event highlights the international reach of Jamaican music and the importance of proper royalty recognition for artists and contributors.

The ceremony will take place on September 15 at The Courtleigh Auditorium, with the event’s organizers confirming that the program will include performances, speeches and the presentation of certificates and discs. Cummings’ inclusion among the honorees reflects her long‑standing contribution to the genre and her continued influence as a performer, broadcaster and entrepreneur.

The event is expected to draw industry professionals, artists and fans, and it will serve as a platform to celebrate the achievements of those who have helped shape the sound of contemporary reggae and dancehall.

The Excellence in Music Ceremony 2026 will conclude with the presentation of the BPI‑certified discs and Grammy certificates, solidifying the recognition of artists like Heather Cummings who have contributed to the global success of Jamaican music.