It's a thin line between school & stage

Winston Wilson, Jr., Staff Reporter

For some children, who are still in school, the world is a stage. Their stage. Some are formidable forces in the arenas of singing, acting, deejaying and instrument playing, etc, while juggling school and family time. And they usually make serious money while at it.

International stars like Michael Jackson, Shirley Temple and Stacy Lattisaw had their moments in the spotlight from early childhood. MacCaulay Culkin, Billy Gillman, Raven-Symone, Brandy and other overseas acts were still in school while enjoying stardom.

Local acts like Junior Tucker, the Melody Makers and Nadine Sutherland had their showbusiness genesis in childhood too.

But now local entertainers like Kitty Paw (deejay), Shelly-Ann Brown (singer), Copper Cat (deejay), Amanyea Jones (dancer) and Chevaughn Clayton (singer) are also reveling in new found fame.

Take Jodi-Ann Pantry. She is not your average teenager. The Chapelton All-Age School, grade six student spends a lot of her time singing at gospel concerts.

Final 10

She entered the 2000 JCDC Gospel Song Contest but did not place in the top three. However, she is among the final 10 vying for top honours in this year's contest.

Sometimes Jodi-Ann's involvement with music causes her to miss classes, "but not on a regular basis". Right now she is just taking it easy, still doing her school work, while preparing for the upcoming JCDC Gospel Song Contest roadshows and grand final.

With homework and studying tugging at one end and rehearsals and performing pulling from the other, it is sometimes difficult for Jodi-Ann to balance both school and the stage.

And does she make money from performing? Sometimes she does, other times its purely pro bono.

Shelly-Ann Brown is 11 years old. She has been singing since she was three years old. At age eight she sang at her father's wedding. She is featured on the Life Productions album Advent Praise. She sang at the 2001 National Labour Day Concert. She has also sang at numerous other functions, including the recent album launch of Robert and Jeneive Bailey.

The Mona Primary student says she plans to be a music teacher and already is proficient at the keyboard. She says that her schoolwork is not affected by her career demands. She performs after school and on weekends.

Her father, Noel Brown, told The Sunday Gleaner that both he and Shelly-Ann's mother are both proud of her.

But Shelly-Ann's principal, Shirley Williams, thinks she is being exploited.

She told The Sunday Gleaner at her age, Shelly-Ann needs to focus on schoolwork.

"While singing plays a part in her development, I don't think she should go out there and entertain for money," Mrs. Williams said.

While L'Antoinette Stines does not feel as strongly, she ensures that her nine-year-old daughter, Amanyea Jones puts her energy, or most of it, into school.

Amanyea attends Mavisville Prep School and is also a soloist and a member of the L'Acadco Dance Company. She has been on tour to England, Africa, the United States and sections of the Caribbean.

"She goes to school full-time and does rehearsal once per week and on weekends," her mother said.

Silva Kid graduated from St. James High School in 1999. Her career as a dancehall deejay had started long before and she spoke with The Sunday Gleaner while recording in the studio.

She said she started taking her career seriously at age 15 and since, she has performed on several stage shows, including 2000 Sumfest and the 1999 and 2000 Teensplash. She uses the money she earns from performing to pay her school fees. Some is stashed away in the bank.

Does school suffer because of the spotlight? Silva Kid says that she has never had to miss classes because of her career. She performs at nights and on weekends.

"If I have a show in the night, I study in the day ... I have long-term memory so I don't have too much problem studying," she related.

Tamar Harvey, 14, does not have a long-term memory. If he misses classes he gets the schoolwork from a friend.

He is a finalist in the 2001 JCDC Gospel Song Contest and performs on concerts "all over the island".

Also called 'Little Bishop', Tamar is going ahead with plans to do his first album next year.

He said he does most of his concerts on weekends and his schedule does not affect his studying or his peformance in school.

Despite some success as a deejay, Copper Cat's schoolwork is not affected either. Richie Stephens, his guardian, ensures that.

"Occasionally he records songs or does stage shows, but schoolwork comes first," the crooner said.

The first-former is a form captain at Jamaica College and maintains an excellent average. But he still finds room to appear on major shows like Sumfest, Saddle to the East and most other major shows that Stephens appear on.

When singer/pianist/drummer Chevaughn Clayton has to skip classes to perform, either friends at Bridgeport High School or teachers help him get the notes.

The singer who won the grand final of the 1997 Tastee Talent Contest now performs at stage shows both locally and overseas.

The 14-year-old told The Sunday Gleaner he earns between $6,000 - $15,000 for performances and in addition to singing he currently plays drums for the Institute of Jamaica and the Glenmuir High School choir.

"My instructor used to play, but he has gone on tour and he asked me to play for the summer," Chevaughn said.

He recently recorded a song with gospel deejay, Prodigal Son and joined with Freddie McGregor to be a guest artiste for a stage show in Miami, United States. Chevaughn, who studies "mostly at nights" said he tries to schedule performances so they do not clash with school and studying. Kashaine Brackenbridge is a five-year old deejay who has performed on several shows with various dancehall personalities such as Lady Saw.

According to his mother, Angella Brown, the tot only performs in his spare time or on weekends. His attendance at the Red Hills Basic School is not affected. She supports her prodigy son and believes in his ability to succeed.

Lady Saw too sang high praises for Kashaine. She says that they have performed together in places like Ocho Rios and Negril. "Him always mash up the place when him perform. Him bad man!" the deejay said.

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