VIDEO: Martin, Prince and King Swallow Receive Lifetime Achievement Honors at National Music Awards

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Three influential figures whose work helped shape Antigua and Barbuda’s musical heritage were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards during the National Music Awards, with detailed citations read to the audience celebrating their contributions to the country’s cultural development.

The 2025 honorees were Junior “Jagger” Martin, Roland Prince (posthumously) and Sir Rupert “The Mighty Swallow” Philo (posthumously).

During the ceremony, organizers outlined the significance of the awards, noting that three lifetime honors were being presented this year along with two posthumous recognitions for artists whose contributions left a lasting mark on Antigua and Barbuda’s music industry.

Roland Prince

The first tribute recognized the late Roland Prince, described as one of Antigua and Barbuda’s greatest musical ambassadors and a towering figure in jazz.

Prince was hailed as “a master of both guitar and piano” whose talent earned international acclaim in the 1960s and 1970s.

The citation noted that his musical journey took him to prestigious stages around the world, including a celebrated performance at Avery Fisher Hall in New York with the Elvin Jones Special Edition Quintet, where his composition “Antigua” captivated audiences.

Prince’s versatility was also highlighted, with organizers noting that he once performed 27 instruments on a single album, demonstrating what they described as the depth of his musical genius.

A representative accepting the award on behalf of the Prince family reflected on his pride in representing Antigua wherever he traveled.

“He traveled all over the world — Europe, Scandinavia as far as Japan,” the speaker said, recalling how band members sometimes encouraged him to identify as American.

“But he would say, ‘No. I want everyone to know I’m from Antigua.’”

The speaker also shared that after years of touring internationally, Prince eventually returned home.

“He said, ‘You know, it’s lonely living out of a suitcase,’ and he came home and spent the rest of his days here as a working musician.”

Sir Rupert “The Mighty Swallow” Philo

The second tribute honored the late Sir Rupert “The Mighty Swallow” Philo, celebrated as one of the most legendary voices in Antigua and Barbuda and across the Caribbean.

For nearly five decades, organizers said, Swallow shaped the sound and spirit of Carnival with music that combined social commentary, national pride and infectious rhythms.

His career began in 1962, when he first appeared on the Carnival stage and placed second runner-up in the Calypso Monarch competition, launching a career that would see him win the Calypso Monarch title four times and the Road March title five times.

Among the songs highlighted in the tribute were “Subway Jam,” “Party in Space,” and the enduring Carnival favorite “Fire in the Backseat.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the family, a representative acknowledged the continued support of fans and reflected on the difficulty of honoring the legendary calypsonian years after his passing.

“This is not easy,” the speaker said. “I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported him throughout the years, his fans.”

The representative also noted that September 11 will mark six years since Philo’s passing, adding that the family continues to celebrate his music and legacy.

Quoting one of his famous lines, the speaker recalled the energy of Swallow’s music: “Antigua’s jumping down in the subway.”

Junior “Jagger” Martin

The third honoree, Junior “Jagger” Martin, was recognized as one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most respected musicians and cultural mentors.

Born in 1952, Martin’s musical journey began at the age of nine when he crafted his first one-string guitar, a moment organizers described as the beginning of a remarkable career.

Over the decades he became a musician, band leader, arranger, recording engineer and educator, joining Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra in 1967 and later forming a longstanding musical partnership with calypso legend Sir Maclean Emanuel.

As an arranger and band leader, Martin contributed to classic road march victories including “Jamming” in 1978 and “Kangaroo Jam” in 1979, while also dedicating much of his life to teaching music to young Antiguans.

Accepting the award, Martin reflected on the challenges he faced early in his career.

“To do this for a lifetime is not easy,” he said. “I didn’t have the privilege of going to a music school… I had to teach myself how to write music, arrange music and play music by myself.”

He said his lifelong goal was always to promote his country through music.

“I had one thing in mind — Antigua and Barbuda,” Martin said. “I always wanted Antigua and Barbuda to be number one, first, all the time.”

Martin also used the moment to encourage young musicians to remain humble and support one another.

“The main thing is to be humble,” he advised. “You never know everything, so you always have to listen.”

He urged experienced musicians to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.

“You have to teach others. You have to uplift your fellow musicians,” Martin said.

The Lifetime Achievement segment was among the highlights of the National Music Awards ceremony, which celebrated performers, producers and cultural contributors whose work continues to shape Antigua and Barbuda’s music industry.

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