By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter 
Sandy Smith in intense praise to God. - Contributed
"SINGING IS my divine summoning," says Sandy Smith.
The 19-year-old gospel songbird of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) 2002 Gospel Contest fame with her much loved entry, I Found You, is convinced that she has been blessed with the gift of song.
"From an early age I felt that was the calling on my life. I really think that's my calling, to sing for the Lord, " she said. As such, the soon to be 20-year-old gave her life to the Lord in 1996.
Young Sandy, who is a member of the Arlene Gardens Gospel Assembly, is not walking the straight and narrow all by herself, since all but one of her immediate family members are saved.
Her mother, Jacqueline Smith, younger brother, Cleveland Smith Jnr. (who is four years younger than her) and older sister, Alicia, 20, are all Christians.
Ms. Smith took The Sunday Gleaner on a stroll down the not-so-long street of her life.
She recalled that she had been entering singing competitions from as early as when she was six years old. The next pit stop was when she was in grade six at the outstanding Pembroke Hall Primary School.
Like many native stars today, Sandy came through the ranks of the Tastee Talent Contest. She and her two siblings formed a group under the banner C.A.S., which are the initials of their first names.
The group won their semi-final and placed fourth in the grand finals with their entry This One's Dedicated to the One I Love.
The next milepost in her life was the time she spent at Meadowbrook High School. She graduated from the institution in 2001 with seven subjects and is now enrolled at the Edna Manley College for the Visual & Performing Arts (EMCVPA), where she is pursuing a three-year certificate course in Music.
The resident of Queensborough in St. Andrew then jumped into her time machine and took The Sunday Gleaner into the near future, as she spoke of the proximity of her debut album. "We are currently working on an album, We don't have the name of the album as yet, we are just basically putting the songs together and laying the tracks," highlighted the songstress.
Sandy, who is currently being managed by gospel duo Jenieve and Robert Bailey, pointed out that she will be making a stop at the studio in the next two or three weeks to begin recording the first song on the album. However, I Found You will not be on the album, due to restrictions on the contract that was signed with JCDC.
EXPECT GREAT THINGS
Giving a hint of what is to come, Sandy, with confidence in her tone, stated: "Expect great things. Expect to be delivered and set free."
Armed with a powerful yet candy-coated voice, the young lady is adamant about being a witness for Jesus Christ while simultaneously satisfying her soul.
"Musically I want to bring the message of Christ and basically it is a career. I love the music very much and without music I feel like there wouldn't be a Sandy," she noted as she opened up for the first time during the interview.
She continued to sport her emotions on her sleeve as she spoke of her ties with the married couple, Robert and Jenieve Bailey. She revealed that the wedded pair have an immense influence on her life and are role models to her.
This, she says, is a direct result of the manner in which they conduct their lives, without hypocrisy, since they are good people not only in the public's eyes but also in the confines of their home, a place where she has been a guest.
"Even the time out that they take to pray with me and all the effort that they have given to my career, bringing me around with them," Sandy said with an air of gratitude.
This relationship began to blossom after Robert and Jenieve were brought in for two years by Sandy's church to give voice training to the senior choir.
At that time Sandy was a part of the junior choir; however after she turned 18 she joined the adult choir and during the time that Robert and Jenieve were still on their training mission at the church.
It was during this time that Jenieve discovered Sandy's talent and encouraged her to take singing seriously. However, Sandy explained to the older lady that though she would love to do so, but like most talented young people she was unaware of the route to take to expose her talent.
Sandy said that it was at that point Jenieve's outstretched arm came and she held on to it. Jenieve discussed the issue with her husband and then returned to Sandy with the first step, which was to enter the JCDC Gospel Festival with the aim of getting into the top 10.
The rest is history.
Without the help of Jenieve and Robert, Sandy's talent would have probably been shadowed by a normal 9 to 5 job, as she had a soft spot for accounting.
In addition, Sandy was faced with the opportunity of singing secular music. Being the niece of popular singjay Clifford 'Mr. Vegas' Smith, the door into the secular music world was wide open to her. Notwithstanding, Sandy never took up the secular offer that was laid on the table; she opted to sing for Christ. Ms. Smith also had spiritually uplifting words for her peers.
She encouraged her equals to remain focused and to work hard in order to properly develop their God-given talent. She also advised them to pray without ceasing and to seek the face of God, so that He might anoint them.
"There are a lot of singers out there, but it is the anointing that makes the difference," preached Sandy from the pulpit of her mind.
With the singing has come a certain amount of attention from the public. However, Sandy told The Sunday Gleaner that the fact that she has been performing from a tender age has kind of acclimatised her to this kind of publicity.
"You just have to have a humble spirit. When you are a Christian you can't be boastful and puffed up," she said.
Whenever Sandy is not busy with singing or school, she hangs out with her friends; Mesha, Daval and Jason, who all attend school with her. At home, she enjoys cooking chicken foot soup.
