The Jamaica Star :: Entertainment :: Jamaica Gospel Competition preaches 'One God, One Family'

Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Alesha Morgan mingles with the 10 finalists of the JCDC Jamaica Gospel 2K8 at the launch held at the Jamaica Pegasus on Tuesday, May 20. From left are Tarshea Williams, Andrew Dixon, Deneese Wright, Rohan Clarke, Sushann Holmes, Gamel Grant, Girvon A. Moore, Ovando Levy, Kareen Gregory and Damion Bell. - Peta-Gaye Clachar

The theme of the 2008 Jamaica Gospel Competition, staged by the Jamaica Cultural Development Com-mission, is 'One God, One Family'.

And true to the slogan, when the eight contestants perform in a series of 'street blockers' across the island ahead of the contest finals on Saturday, July 26, at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew, they will be in the company of established gospel artistes.

Guest performers

So at the first outdoor gospel party in Water Square, Falmouth, Trelawny, on Saturday, June 14, Prodigal Son and Joseph Scott will be the guest performers. A week later, Judith Gayle and Kerron Ennis are the special guests at the Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay, St Thomas. Ryan Mark and Lubert Levy will perform alongside the contestants on Saturday, June 28, at Leiba's Esso Tiger Mart in May Pen, Clarendon, with the RB Singers and Rohan Blair lending a holy hand at the Turtle River Park, Ocho Rios, St Ann, on Saturday, July 5.

However, when the finals take place, the decision will be made from God Is My Refuge by Andrew Dixon, produced by Paul Barclay; By Faith by Rohan Clarke, produced by Jon Williams; Satan You Lose Again by Tarshea Williams, produced by Alex-Martin Blanken; 'No Condemnation' by Deneese Wright, roduced by Garfield Martin; This is Your Child by Sushann Holmes, produced by Grub Cooper; Remember Heaven by Gamel Grant, produced by Courick Clarke; Jamaica Needs to Change by Givron A Moore, produced by Dennis Ruston; I Know a Friend by Ovando Levy, produced by Mario Lawrence; Let Us Pray by Minister Treasure, produced by Othniel Lewis; and God Is by Kereen Gregory, produced by Jenieve and Robert Bailey.

Gospel cd

The contestant's voices should cover more ground than they will physically do, as for the 11th time the JCDC has produced a CD of the finalists in the Jamaica Gospel Competition. The album was launched at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday, May 20.

Sponsors of the competition are Grace Tropical Rhythms, Digicel, CVM, LOVE FM, LOVE TV, KLAS, Nationwide News Network, Power 106, IRIE FM, ROOTS FM and Sun Island Jamaica.