George Nooks

A hotly tipped raggamuffin vocalist with three 1997 Tamika Reggae Music Awards to his credit (for Crossover Artist, Outstanding Male Artist, and Vocalist of the Year), George Nooks fell afoul of the law scant weeks before the official ceremony, and was arrested by bounty hunters -- authorized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service -- for being in the United States illegally. Nooks had released his self-titled debut album months before, on the back of his crossover hit singles "Real Men" and "One of a Kind Love Affair." Even after he was deported, he continued to tour and record. ~ John Bush