A star with Jazzy B’s name on it will soon be embedded in the concrete on Vancouver’s Granville Street.
The Surrey-raised bhangra-pop musician is among this year’s StarWalk inductees, as chosen by the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, along with actor Michael J. Fox and musicians Joe Keithley, Marcus Mosely and Hal Beckett.
Since his music career began in the mid-1990s, Jazzy B (born Jaswinder Singh Bains) has become a transatlantic star with his Indian grooves. The New York Times once dubbed him the “Michael Jackson of India.”
“He grew up here (in Surrey) and got his start in music here," said R. Paul Dhillon, a local filmmaker and writer who, along with Bobby Nagra, nominated Jazzy B for StarWalk induction.
“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 B.C.”
Jazzy B has twice performed at Surrey's Fusion Fest, among other local concert venues.
“His currently resides in Langley with his wife and kids, so he's back regularly (from India),” Dhillon told the Now.
(Scroll down to see Jazzy B's music video for "Most Wanted")
StarWalk stars are given to those who have "enhanced the province's cultural profile, both locally and on the world stage."
This year’s Pioneer Stars inductees (those who have left an “indelible mark on B.C.’s entertainment landscape”) include musicians George Calangis, Sharman King, Tom Lavin, Ian McDougall, Linda McRae and Tab Shori, dancer Renee Cherrier, producers Rai Purdy, Steve Edge and the Filippone Brothers, and directors Crawford Hawkins, Diane Loomer and Carole Tarlington.
“We look forward to scheduling and celebrating their individual inductions at various high profile events over the coming months honouring their contribution,” stated Rob Haynes, president of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
The first induction will take place on Thursday, May 26, when Michael J. Fox will be inducted at a private gala dinner. Other individual induction ceremonies will take place in venues around British Columbia that best reflect the artist and their talents.
StarWalk Star members are recognized with a featured star in the walk of fame on the Granville Street sidewalk in Vancouver and also in the StarWall photo gallery in the Orpheum Theatre’s upper lobby. Pioneer Star members are acknowledged on the Orpheum lobby’s Honour Plaque.
Look for details at Bcentertainmenthalloffame.com.