BY DEPORTEE, STAR Writer
Gospel artiste Junior Thompson - RICARDO MAKYN
STEPPING OUT INTO the sunshine on a humid Wednesday afternoon, the neatly dressed, slightly built young man could be mistaken for a police officer. Well, he is a police officer of a different kind, one who is arresting evil for his saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amid the cesspool of mayhem of present-day Jamaica, Junior Thompson is a man driven by the single-mindedness of praising the Lord. Religious cynicism ranks high in this land of wood and water and Thompson is here to spray Jesus' message.
Hailing from the Sunshine City of Portmore, it was with anticipation that this crooner for Christ sat down to explain his message and his music. However slippery and accommodating life is, he wants to traverse the path to Jesus, and the avenue that opens it is music.
'Columbus-like', he discovered singing at 18 years old. For this shy young man, it has been a long road but short journey. He entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's National Gospel Song competition in 2002 and 2003. His two entries His Love Is Precious Than Gold (2002) and Now That I know (2003) all were semi-finalists.
"I am coming hard," he said with a broad smile.
Thompson's life involves somewhat weird accomplish-ments. "Without music, I would never have learned to read and write. I was an illiterate. I used to ask my nieces and aunties to read my letters and write for me," he said smilingly.
Wait, hold up, you were an illiterate? he was incredulously asked. Breaking out into another infectious grin he answered, "Yes, and I have to thank the Lord and music for making me literate."
Growing up with a religious upbringing, it wasn't until music opened his mind that he really felt the 'spirit'. He was always the copper wire and music was the electricity which would spark his new awakening.
I AM BLESSED
"I feel like I am blessed. The Spirit of God filled me. I'm a result of King Jesus. I can now read," he said.
"... I want everyone to know that Jesus helps ... I now use my time for devotion and to write."
His epiphany is now opening doors, as his talent now sees him writing songs. His latest song, Help Me, was written in tribute to his wife. "I was jumping up and down and calling all my family members, shouting that my song is playing on the air," he said of the first time that he heard his song on the radio airwaves.
He spoke in an earnest manner, his voice rising with every word uttered, his eyes having a faraway look. He wasn't dreaming, however, as he was reality's Alice in Wonderland and the world was now his looking glass. With a firm handshake, Johnson walked away, a bubbling pool of spirituality.
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