Miramar Honors Reggae Icons Clive Murphy, Lloyd Parks, Tommy Cowan, Carlene Davis

Clive "Tennors" Murphy accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the fifth annual Reggae Icon Awards at the Miramar Cultural Center Banquet Hall in Miramar, South Florida, the ceremony held on February 26, 2026. Also honored were bass guitarist Lloyd Parks, presented with the Reggae Icon Award, and Tommy Cowan and his wife Carlene Davis, who received the Marcus Garvey Award.

Murphy, who formed The Tennors in 1965 and led the trio behind rock steady hits such as "Pressure And Slide" and "Ride yuh Donkey," reflected on his career in a brief statement: "I am very grateful to be recognised/honoured for all the work I have done for 63 years. It also gives me a good feeling to know that our songs can stand the test of time." Murphy also asserted a place in reggae history, saying, "The first song with the word reggae was our song, Reggae Girl, and I was the person that spelled reggae the way it is being spelt today."

Lloyd Parks, whose career began in the 1960s as a vocalist with the rock steady duo The Termites and who is best known as founder and leader of We The People Band, was recognized for decades of session work and live performance. His discography credits cited at the ceremony include playing on Gregory Isaacs' "Hard Drugs" and "Number One," Dennis Brown's "Should I" and "Ain't That Loving You," and Tyrone Taylor's "Cottage in Negril." Parks said of the recognition, "I am extremely elated and appreciative of this award. I am excited to be honoured at this tine because most of the work has been done. It is a good time and the right time."

Tommy Cowan and Dr. Carlene Davis-Cowan, OD, accepted the Marcus Garvey Award for contributions spanning secular and gospel music. The couple, listed with their post-nominals at the ceremony as Tommy Cowan, CD, and Dr. Carlene Davis-Cowan, OD, were acknowledged for careers that bridge both musical traditions. Davis closed her remarks with faith and perseverance, saying, "I am grateful. The journey has not been an easy one and so when I receive these honours I first give thanks to God. The scripture that says in Galatians 6: 9-10, 'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest.' If we do not give up, therefore, as we have the opportunity, let's us do good to all people."

The event was hosted by Commissioner Carson "Eddy" Edwards, with Jody-Ann Gray serving as emcee and Dahlia Harris delivering the keynote address. Edwards framed the evening as a cultural movement, saying, "Reggae music has always been more than a sound, it is a movement, a message, and a powerful cultural force," and added, "The Reggae Icon Awards is our opportunity to honor the pioneers and visionaries who laid the foundation for this global genre while continuing to inspire unity, pride, and purpose within our community and beyond." The ceremony was presented as part of the Afro Carib Weekend Experience, a Black History Month slate that includes the Afro Carib Festival and Selecta Showdown, and was supported by Mayor Wayne M. Messam and the City Commission under the theme "Black History meets Reggae."

Organizers promoted public access to the awards and encouraged advance registration through the event's page on Eventbrite. Event listings and program notes varied on timing: one detailed timeline indicated a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. with awards from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., while other listings cited an overall window of 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Miramar Cultural Center Banquet Hall is located at 2400 Civic Center Place.

The ceremony, now in its fifth year, reinforced Miramar's emphasis on celebrating Black history, Caribbean heritage and the arts and placed four veteran figures of Jamaican music at the center of the city's Afro Carib Weekend Experience.