Bob Marley - Aston Barrett Honoured With Lifetime Achievement Award

The bassist has been the driving force behind Marley's band The Wailers for more than 40 years and was presented with the award by Bass Player Magazine on Saturday (20Oct12) at The Key Club in Los Angeles.

Barrett has become internationally recognised for his signature bass patterns which have come to define contemporary reggae music.

Accepting the honour, he said, "This is the first award I have ever received in America, and it was such a great honour because it means the message of reggae music from Jamaica is reaching all the people of the world.

"The opportunity to speak to other musicians is always an honour, and I was so thrilled the hour had come for me to be able to speak to other bass players and musicians about reggae music.

"Reggae is the music of the people, and this (ceremony) allowed me to speak to the people. I've been on the road from 1969 until 2012, and this reminds me why it is my mission to spread the message of reggae music to the world."