Culture Zone Award for singjay Yanks

Singjay Yanks was quite pleasantly surprised when he was called on stage last week Friday night to receive an award from the organisers of the first annual Culture Zone Radio Program Award & Talent Show in the US.
Held at the Olavrador Restaurant in Queens, the event was organised by popular radio disc jock George Brash First and Yanks was one of the scheduled performers.
It was an evening of great vibes, conscious music and wholesome, family entertainment. Also on the line-up were JD Smooth, Two Shoes Dance Master, Progez, Winston Shillingford and others.
Yanks, who also performed earlier in March at the Linkage Awards at Macedonia Center in Mt Vernon, New York, did a medley which went over very well with patrons. Among the songs he performed were Respect to my mother, It’s a Shame, Innocent Youths, Run The Trees and Babylon.
Yanks, after his performance, was called on stage to accept an award for his contribution to conscious reggae music. Yanks has made a steady impact with his songs being charted on the popular Reverbnation Chart, going to the very top spot, through requests and airplay only.
“I am very appreciative of this award. It was not something that I expected at all,” he said backstage in an interview. “I came here to perform .. do my thing and enjoy the rest of the show. Thanks to the promoters and also my fans who recognise good music and have been giving me the strength to puch on,” Yanks said.
A past student of All Saints All Age School in Kingston, Jamaica, Yanks’ foray into reggae music started in the island. He recalls that despite the fact that he was always singing and deejaying at every opportunity, the elders always impressed on him the need to prove himself. His major influences included the late Bob Marley, whose conscious lyrics and livity inspired him and singer Eddie Fitzroy.
Unable to get the break for which he yearned, Yanks branched out into promotions and started putting on dances, which earned him his own fan base. Encouraged by this he eventually began to write songs on his own and very soon, his voice was heard. Yanks got his first break at Hope Gardens at a concert and to this day he still recalls the thrill of that event.
In between trying to finish up his first album, Girl Samplist, and working full time, Yanks is also making the rounds wiht live performances. He will be one of the performers at Best of the Best to be held in Miami, Florida, later this year.