VANCOUVER – Bhangra superstar Jazzyt B.,
who earlier this year made history as the first South
Asian to be inducted into the BC Entertainment
Hall of Fame (BCEHOF), will be officially
inducted at twin ceremonies set to take place
on Saturday, September 17 in Vancouver and
Surrey.
There will be a StarWalk unveiling of Jazzy
B.’s star on BC Walk of Fame along the starry
and hip Granville Street corridor at 2 pm on
September 17 in downtown Vancouver.
The afternoon ceremony will be followed by a formal reception taking
place at Surrey’s Crown Palace Banquet hall that same evening, where
the BCEHOF officials will officially
induct the international Bhangra superstar into the Hall of Fame by presenting him with a framed certificate
and a pin.
“I truly feel blessed and honoured to be
getting this great recognition from my
home province where I truly honed my
craft and from where I started on my
musical journey,” said Jazzy B.
“I’m here as an artist because of my
mother tongue Punjabi which is the essence of my music. I could have never
imagined getting such an award and
it is indeed my language and my fans
who I’m humbly thankful and forever
grateful.”
Once inducted, Jazzy B. will join elite
company of artists being honoured
this year which includes legendary
television-film star Michael J. Fox,
who will join the 275 plus previous
inductees who have been recognized
for their significant contribution to the
province’s entertainment industry and
cultural landscape.
The BCEHOF is divided into two
prestigious categories: StarWalk and
Pioneers. The StarWalk inductees are
individuals who have enhanced the
province’s cultural profile, both locally
and on the world stage.
Jazzy B. was nominated for the prestigious honour by DESIBUZZbc founder and Award Winning Journalist R.
Paul Dhillon (editor of the South Asian
LINK) and Punjabi Music impresario Bobby Nagra, who is a long time
friend and supporter of
Jazzy B.
“This is a great honour
for Jazzy who is well deserving but it’s an even
bigger honour for the
wider South Asian community who have collectively made a great
contribution to the arts in
BC,” said Dhillon, adding that he, Nagra and
the Man with the Plan
– the Oracle (BS) – are
thankful to the BCEHOF
committee for honouring
a true pioneer in the Desi
music scene in BC and abroad.
Nagra said: “We are truly humbled by
this honour and Jazzy and all his fans
are very excited that his home province
has recognized him in such a big way
with a Star on BC Walk of Fame. It’s a
proud day for our community.”
Dubbed by The New York Times as the
“Michael Jackson of India,” Canada’s
Jaswinder Singh Bains (Jazzy B) is
heralded for introducing a fresh new
image to the world of Bhangra music.
Since his smash debut album, Gugian
de Jorra, hit the streets in 1993, the
transatlantic superstar has released 11
top-selling studio albums, sold out arenas around the globe and become one
of the most important singer/songwriters on the modern Punjabi music scene.
He remains committed to his roots,
supporting various charitable causes in
Canada and India, and each year headlines the Surrey Fusion Festival in his
local community of Surrey, BC.
“The BC Entertainment Hall of Fame
is proud and excited to present a very
diverse and impressive group of Pioneer and StarWalk inductees who
represent artistic excellence in British
Columbia”, stated Rob Haynes, President BC Entertainment Hall of Fame,
“We look forward to scheduling and
celebrating their individual inductions
at various high profile events over the
coming months honouring their contribution.”
StarWalk Star members are recognized
with a featured star in the walk of
fame on the Granville Street sidewalk
in downtown Vancouver and in the
StarWall photo Gallery in the historic
Orpheum Theatre upper lobby and
Pioneer Star members are acknowledged on the Orpheum Lobby Honour
Plaque.
For more information, including tickets and sponsorship, call Bobby Nagra
@ 604-657-5998 or R. Paul Dhillon
@ 604-880-3463 or Sabbi Kooner @
604-802-3090 or Channi Dhillon @
604-825-1242.
