CD OUTLET'S Ameen Shoucair has teamed up with Chalice's Wayne Armond to form Ki Music Records under which, they say, they will be releasing "good music."

The venture has already released a CD single, Peace Train, featuring Armond and DJ Tony Rebel. The song was written by Cat Stevens and features back-up singers Jessica and Friends lead by Jessica Shoucair.

They have also been promoting a pre-released single from Bob Andy titled I Love You. This is the forerunner to a new album from Andy, expected to be titled Now And Then and a re-release of Chalice's album, Si Mi Yah.

Both the Chalice and Bob Andy albums will feature old stuff, repackaged with some previously unreleased stuff and should be in the shops by year-end.

I Love You was recorded at Mikey Bennett's Grafton Studios in Vineyard Town.

Andy says that Now And Then is only the working title and that the unreleased stuff will also include Zion and There Is A God, which have been receiving airplay. He hopes it will eventually have 16 tracks.

"The older songs will be mainly ones that I feel I can do more justice to at this stage and they are not only Studio One songs," said Andy. It is likely to include his big hits on the Federal Records label: Games People Play, Fire Burning, Check It Out and Sun Shines For Me.

The Chalice CD will include the new tracks: Watch Out and One Day Medley.

Incidentally, talking about Mikey Bennett, three weeks ago the veteran producer had to sit and watch his Cherry Gardens home burn to the ground.

We learnt that there was a powercut in the area and candles were lit at the house, when the fire started. To make matters worse, there was no water. Bennett told us that the first truck had to wait for a second truck, while the house was burning down. He and his family just had to sit and watch. By the time the water came, they could only pour it on the burnt out shell. He says that it will cost him at least $4 million to rebuild his home.

Stitchie

CHEVELLE Franklin says that she believes that gospel music was the big winner at Reggae Sumfest 2001.

"I performed on International Night and Stitchie performed Dancehall Night and I am happy that they decided to spread it out, instead of having one Gospel Night," she said.

The reason: "Christians will come for Gospel Night, but I want to reach those who have not accepted Christ," she explained.

"Some people are very ignorant when it comes to religion, but I went to talk about Jesus Christ and everything just turned out nice." she said.

Franklin worked for some 35 minutes and said that at the end she was shown respect by everyone: "The experience was humbling and I was honoured to be on Sumfest. I know some Christians don't like it, but there are those of us who have decided to go into the world and preach the gospel. What's the sense of teaching my children their A-B-C when they already know it. That's where I am to go. Look at Stitchie, he was the man of the night on Dancehall Night. God was glorified that night."

She had appeared on Sumfest only once before, performing Dancehall Queen, with Beenie Man. This year, she worked for 35 minutes backed by a band led by her producer Danny Browne.

She said that she would not be intimidated by Sting, either: "I've reached a point now, where I am not afraid to die for Jesus Christ. I am not afraid of death any more. My soul is right now."

Franklin, has been busy promoting her album, Joy (Main Street).

She was in England recently, where she performed with Stitchie and, she said, she was surprised by the wonderful response :"I was surprised because I am new to the gospel market and people are just getting to know me."