By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterIN THE world of gospel music, most solo artistes use the name on their birth certificates onstage as well. On the contrary, your birth name just might not cut it on the secular scene.
In secular music, it is the belief of many that a name is integral to an artiste's success, hence the widespread use of assumed names. The premise is that if the name is 'catchy' and in keeping with the artiste's image, there is a greater chance of the public remembering and embracing the act.
In gospel music, things are a tad different. Except for the more recent crop of gospel artistes under the reggae gospel banner, most solo acts use the names that appear on their birth certificates.
GOSPEL ARTISTE
Gospel singer Judith Gayle told The Gleaner that a name has no bearing at all on the success of a gospel artiste. "No, I don't think it will either make you or break you," Judith exclaimed. However, gospel deejay Prodigal Son disagreed. "Your name can kill you and it can build you... You can be a good artiste with a bad name," reasoned Prodigal.
Judith, who was 'secularly' involved with the music before her conversion as Judith Gayle, stressed that she has nothing against an artiste acquiring a stage name, but she prefers using her real name. "If I had a name like Papa San, Pink Rat or Stitchie when I was in the secular, when I come to gospel I would change it because old things are passed away, behold all things are become new," she said.
On the contrary, Papa San believes that that argument is fallacy at its highest height. "It would have been stupid to do that. Papa San really mean head or leader and I needed to keep the name so that people know who Jesus save," San said adamantly.
SECULAR ACT
Still, San said that if the name he acquired as a secular act had a negative connotation, then he would have changed it. Judith pointed out that San's reason for maintaining his name is good, but opined that there might be others that do it for the 'hype'.
Prodigal jumped into the mix again and stated that he did some research on his name before he labelled himself. He said that Prodigal denoted the return of a repentant wanderer. "It should reflect your testimony... Your name should minister to the people," he said. Prodigal interjected, however, that in his book birth names are also 'good to go' on-stage.
The artistes unanimously stated that not every name is fitting for a gospel artiste. "You can't use certain name as a gospel artiste, period. It cannot be contrary to the Word of God," Prodigal said. "Some names will not be accepted in gospel. You have names that have demons attached to it, as well as ones with blessings attached to it."
