Recipients of the National Honours and Awards will be announced this week by the government of Jamaica. Today, we look at stalwarts of the country’s music industry whose contributions have never been recognised.

Guitatist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith

Arguably the most prolific session musician in the history of reggae, Smith has played on classic songs by Dennis Brown (Westbound Train, Cassandra), Bob Marley (Rastaman Vibration), and Burning Spear (Marcus Garvey). His licks can also be heard on Grammy-winning albums by Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers and Lauryn Hill, as well as Amy Winehouse’s first album. In October 2023, Rolling Stone Magazine named Smith at #182 on its 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.