By Teino Evans, Staff ReporterFOR MOST of his life, Junior Tucker grew up in the limelight, singing and performing both within and outside of Trench Town, where he was born.
Born in this 'musical hub' of the island, Tucker grew up in a family of singers and it was no wonder that his musical career began when he started singing for neighbours and passers-by.
Junior grew from strength to strength in his music, as he eventually held several international recording contracts with the likes of Island, Geffen and Virgin Records.
Tucker, who spent 25 years as a reggae singer, thought he had it all travelling around the world to places like Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom, the United States and most of the Caribbean islands, making a name for himself on the international scene. However, Tucker would soon realise that there was something missing.
With the death of his estranged father in 1995 and, later, the birth of his first child (Chyna Joelle), Tucker had much to ponder. At that point in his life, he went in search of that missing link that could give him complete satisfaction.
Tucker tried several belief systems, including Rastafarianism and Islam, but only met with confusion. Now frustrated, Tucker was unable to sleep and, when he did, was plagued with nightmares.
Tucker recalls being very perplexed one night in particular. He jumped out of bed, knelt and prayed to God. "I said 'God, I am tired... if you are real, let me sleep... tell me what you want me to do'," Tucker said. Tucker, after he said his prayers, went to bed that night feeling as if a great burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
Needless to say, he was well rested.
After this life-changing experience, Tucker believed without a shadow of a doubt that he was a Christian. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour and, three nights later, made a public declaration by singing at a gospel concert in Kingston.
Tucker says since his new life as a Christian began in 1997, he has never looked back. "There is nothing to look back to," he said.
Not settling for just being a mere Christian and minister of the gospel, Tucker has made himself available to the gospel in every way possible.
Now, Tucker says that God has transformed him from a singer to a worshipper, as the anointing of God is resident in his life. Now that Tucker is a gospel artiste, God has taken him back to many of the places he used to perform as a secular artiste, not only to sing but also to preach and teach on worship.
"For the past year, I have served as the worship leader at New Harvest Church in Clewiston, Florida," he said. During that period, Tucker says he has written, arranged and produced 14 songs, which he has released recently on his third gospel album entitled Sold Out for New Life Music. Previously, Tucker produced two gospel albums Brand New and Ready For The Rapture.
Even though Tucker will be focusing some amount of attention on promoting his latest album, he maintains that he was not necessarily called to music but to Christ.
"I can clearly see that God is shaping me to be more like a minister-pastor kind of person. I have been getting a lot of calls to be a preacher and a worship seminar leader. God is shaping me to be a full minister," Tucker says.
And that is his focus for the future.
