SOUTHAMPTON teenage star Craig David said he was "blown away" today to pick up six nominations for the annual Mobo Awards, setting the seal on his album and singles chart success. (6/9/00)

The singer picked up the highest number of nominations for one artist since the Music of Black Origin awards began five years ago.

His collaborators, the production team Artful Dodger, have four nominations, as have R&B singer Jamelia and garage star MJ Cole.

The nominations were announced this morning in Las Vegas for the event which takes place in London on October 4.

David's haul of nominations includes two mentions in the best single category one with Artful Dodger for Women Trouble and other for his first solo number one Fill Me In.

He is also up for best R&B act, best UK newcomer, best UK garage act (again with Artful Dodger) and best video for Seven Days.

Speaking from Germany where he is promoting the album, the 19yearold told PA News: ''I can't believe it, you know this whole year has been exceptional with Fill Me In, Seven Days and the albums to be nominated for so many years has just blown me away.

''It's so flattering that people are into me. If I go there and don't win anything I'm happy to have just been nominated.''

''I could never have imagined this would have happened when I wrote Rewind with Artful Dodger. I never even expected it to chart because it was all based around a vibe, not a song.

''I thought it would be really cool on the underground but it went to number two just before Christmas. I thought this can't be right.''

Since then the star, who started DJing at the age of 14, has gone to number one with his singles Fill Me In and Seven Days and his album Born To Do It.

But he says the success has not gone to his head: ''It's exactly the same Craig that was dreaming of having a record deal, never mind a song in the charts, as a year ago.

''I'm retaining my humbleness and staying grounded some people can believe the hype.''

Artful Dodger's other nominations for the MasterCard Mobo Awards 2000 are best producer and best UK newcomer. Jamelia's nominations include best video and best UK single for Money, while MJ Cole includes best producer and best UK newcomer.

Craig David is also lined up to perform at the awards, along with Sade, Gabrielle and US stars Sisqo and Donell Jones.

Reggae legends Aswad are to pick up the Mobo Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. The event will be televised by Channel 4.

As part of this year's Mobo celebrations, organisers are setting up an unsigned act tour calling in a venues in Manchester, Sheffield, London and Dublin.