Stephen “Cat” Coore, a founding member of the legendary reggae band Third World, was honored with the Caribbean Heritage Luminary Award at the 30th Annual Caribbean American Heritage (CARAH) Awards Gala on November 17, 2023. The event, which took place at the JW Marriott in Washington DC, celebrated the achievements of Caribbean Americans and their contributions to the American society. Coore, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1959, is a renowned cellist and guitarist who has been making music for over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of reggae fusion, blending reggae with elements of rock, pop, soul, and R&B. He has received multiple Grammy nominations and awards for his work with Third World, which is one of the longest-existing and most influential bands in Jamaican music history.

Coore was presented with the Luminary Award by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts, culture, and entertainment fields in the Caribbean and the diaspora. In his acceptance speech, Coore thanked Jah for his strength and expressed his gratitude to his fans and supporters. He also shared his vision of reggae music as a force for unity and social change. He said: “Reggae music is not just a genre; it is a movement. It is a way of life that transcends boundaries and barriers. It is a message of love, peace, and justice that resonates with people all over the world. I am humbled and honored to receive this award as a reggae ambassador and a Caribbean heritage luminary.”

He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for several charitable causes in Jamaica, such as pediatric care and ocean conservation. He has been involved with the Issa Trust Foundation’s (ITF) For The Children charity gala, which raised US$417,000 for the Mary Issa Health Centre in Richmond, St Ann. He has also been appointed as the “Oceans Ambassador” for the Alligator Head Foundation and its Clean Ocean initiatives in Portland, Jamaica. Coore said of his philanthropic work: “We are ambassadors for the Issa Trust Foundation, and Third World is front and centre in helping to build the Mary Issa Health Centre in Richmond, St Ann. We are all the way strong with them on this. We are also passionate about protecting our environment and our oceans, which are vital for our survival and our culture.”

Coore’s musical journey began at an early age, as he was born into a prominent political family and exposed to various musical influences. His father was David Coore, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica, and his mother was a music teacher. He attended Forster Davis School of Music to study vocals and guitar. He founded Third World in 1973 with keyboardist Michael “Ibo” Cooper, drummer Carl Barovier, singer Milton “Prilly” Hamilton, and bassist Colin “Oliver” Leslie. The band debuted in 1973 at Jamaica’s celebration of independence. Coore also plays the cello, which he learned from his uncle John Coore, a classical musician. Coore said of his musical style: “The hybrid of various types of music is a natural thing because, by growing up in Jamaica, we know the direct roots of reggae and ska. At the same time, we live in a country where you get to hear Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and all the R&B artists.”

Third World is known for its reggae-influenced hits such as “Now That We Found Love”, “96 Degrees In The Shade”, “Try Jah Love” and “Reggae Ambassadors”. The band has toured extensively across the globe and performed at prestigious events such as the Smile Jamaica festival in 1976 (along with The Wailers), the Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1979 (along with Bob Marley), the Reggae Geel festival in 2022 (along with Chronixx), and the CARAH Awards Gala in 2023 (along with Michael Blake and Jacky Wright). The band has also collaborated with other artists such as Stevie Wonder, Eddy Grant, Shaggy, Damian Marley, Toots Hibbert, and Burning Spear. The band’s latest album is More Work To Be Done (2019), which was produced by Damian Marley and nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.