Chevelle Franklyn is without doubt one of the most outstanding Gospel reggae artists today. Her energy as a performer, insight as a songwriter/producer, vocal capacity as a singer, and her anointing as a worshiper has ensured her success as a leading, international, multiple award-winning psalmist.
 As a child prodigy in the industry, Chevelle recorded her first work, Here I Am, at the tender age of fourteen but the single was not released until three years later. Public reaction to its eventual intro was hugely positive and indicated that Chevelle had a future in the industry.
Nurtured by some of the top names among Jamaica’s music producers, Chevelle soon marked out a distinctive territory in Jamaica’s dancehall culture scene. Her future took a rosy turn when she began working with producers Mikey Bennett and Rohan Harrison. She recorded her smash hit Nice and Naughty, followed by another single, No Pushover in 1992.
This led to collaborations with household names such as Spragga Benz, for A1 Lover in 1996 and Shabba Ranks for Mr. Lover Man in 1991. In 1997, Chevelle hit a lucrative opportunity to record the internationally acclaimed Dancehall Queen with Beenie Man, for Island Records. The soundtrack was used for the equally successful movie of the same name, in 1997.
Chevelle was now a household name in Jamaica, the UK, the Islands and America. During 1996 and 1997, Chevelle toured the major cities of these countries, performing at venues such as the New York Apollo and Reggae SummerFest in Jamaica. She shared the stage with The Fugees, Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Shaggy as well as Boyz II Men and Miriam Makeba to name a few.
:: Transformation
Despite the great success, there remained a gaping hole in her soul. As she was performing at a concert in 1998, Chevelle, tired of the empty way of life and hopelessness, suddenly declared on stage a change of direction in her career and lifestyle - she decided to become a Christian. Her change was immediate and instead of singing the next song on her performance list - Dancehall Queen - she broke into Kirk Franklin's Silver and Gold. She says:
"I did not hear a message or anything, but I felt the calling of God. I just broke down on the stage and said, 'I can't do this anymore.' I knew there was something better out there."
Better certainly did come and since that change Chevelle has been combining her new expression with the energetic lyrical style that had made her a great success. A 2000 collaboration with Papa San on his award-winning album, Victory, led to a Marlin Award for her vocal appearance on the track Touch From You.
She wrote the first page in the history of her new lifestyle with her first gospel album, Joy, a co-production effort with Danny Brownie, for Mainstreet Records. The album stirred up an international storm when it was released in 2001, and led to a tour around the UK, the Caribbean and the USA. One of her aims in its recording Joy was to deal with real issues facing young people. She says:
"Songs like It's Another Saturday Night deal with real issues for young Christian people. It's a real struggle - sometimes your friends are out partying and you feel left out, so this is what the song is dealing with."
For her efforts, Joy led to 12 nominations in the Sixth Annual Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards in 2002. Chevelle walked away with awards in five categories: Outstanding New Artist of the Year; Adapted Recording of the Year, for Firm Foundation; Female Reggae Recording of the Year, for Magnify His Name; Contemporary Female Vocal Performance of the Year, for Joy; and Album of the Year.
Her debut Gospel album, His Way, was released on her own label N.O.W (No Other Way) Records in 2005. In many ways, His Way is a chronicle of Chevelle’s life experiences and how God has shown her His way of working out everyday. His Way received rave reviews world over and confirmed Chevelle as a grand addition to the Gospel reggae stables. Tracks like Would You Go, Weeping & Wailing and Come have become hits. The album also contains the party-favorite remix to the Dancehall Queen chorus. Sample its lyrics:
"King Jesus is the only key to life; open up your heart and realize; you'll receive eternal life and you will light up the place like dynamite!"
Chevelle has ministered alongside big Gospel names like Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, and Michael W. Smith; she has traveled the world over with her message, holding powerful concerts in Kenya as the main act at the 2005 Xtreme Weekend.
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1"....."
at Monday, 17 August 2009 14:19
Cant wait the concert
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