By Teino Evans, Staff ReporterAS A youngster, Howard Reynolds pursued dreams like any other youth, growing up in the communities of Marverly and Orange Grove in Kingston. Despite being introduced to the church at an early age (attending Sunday school), Howard tried his hand at dancehall music while attending Papine Secondary.
He had his fair share of success at a secular career under the name 'Snake Man', as he recorded his first song (Old People) at age 15 for Sly & Robbie. In 1993 Reynolds landed a contract with the Black Scorpio Label where he recorded his first major single Mr. Dynamite.
As time passed, Howard reaped the successes of his secular career but began to grow uncomfortable with the contents of his musical lyrics and in 1997, felt the power of God's word while watching a programme on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). It wasn't until two years later, however, that Howard went before an altar at the Cavalier New Testament Church and fully committed his life to Christ.
DEEJAYING TALENT
Since then, Howard Reynolds, now popularly known as Mr. Goddy Goddy, has been using all resources available to him, including his talent as a deejay, to spread the word of God to the unsaved, as well as encourage Christians along the correct path.
Goddy Goddy can recall how he first gained recognition in the Christian music fraternity, as he says it all started when he was deejaying a song he had written.
"Mi did have a song weh mi write called The Whole Armour, taken from Ephesians 8, and I was deejaying the song one day (at the Cavalier New Testament Church) when some church members heard me and invited me to perform it in church," he said.
From there, Goddy Goddy started performing at 'Youth Flex' (an event where all the churches in that denomination came together). It was at that point that Goddy Goddy landed an interview at LOVE FM, with Marshall Redwood.
EXPOSURE
"Marshall recognised my talent and introduced me to Sam Wisdom and I did my first 'Back to Basics' concert in early 2000," he said. Goddy Goddy says this was just the exposure that he needed, as he started to perform on all the 'Back to Basic' shows around the island. "It was through the whole 'Back to Basics' thing that led to my launching off and getting popular," Goddy Goddy explained.
In November 2000, Mr. Goddy Goddy, released his self-titled debut album Goddy Goddy, which did well both locally and internationally. In 2001, Goddy Goddy was the recipient of the XNEWS 'Best Gospel Artiste for 2000' award and he was later featured on the 2003 Kellogg's Gospel Singoff Junior Choir Competition series in Washington DC and Detroit.
MIXED EXPERIENCES
Goddy Goddy says this first album paved the way for his sophomore album, entitled Warfare, which was launched on April 3, 2004.
This second album, which has been two years in the making, has been raking up a storm, as Goddy Goddy says the response has been great so far. "I am happy to know that the songs and even the topics we choose to speak on, people can really relate to in their everyday lifestyle," he said. Goddy Goddy says throughout his career as a gospel artiste there have been ups and downs, but nevertheless he continues in the faith. He says "It's not an easy road, but at the same time we experience a lot of good times, and we feel good when souls are saved."
The critics and traditional Christians who oppose his work sometimes put a strain on him, but Goddy says he hopes that in time these people too will grow to appreciate the effectiveness of his ministry.
WE ARE SAVED
"There are some people who still don't believe that we are saved or that reggae can be used to minister to people, but I have grown past that. I now give thanks for those people, hoping that one day they will see the light," he said.
He has been utilising the power of his DJ ministry to take the message of salvation to the unsaved, but Mr. Goddy Goddy has not stopped there.
He has spent money out of his own pocket to form an outdoor ministry called 'Faith Anointed', a gospel sound system that plays mainly in inner-city communities, like Tivoli, Denham Town, Rocky Valley, Cavaliers and Temple Hall.
Goddy Goddy says it was a vision he received from God and he has had to press forward without financial aid from the corporate community. Now Goddy Goddy says he welcomes any assistance from persons/organisations wishing to come on board, as his only source of funding for this outdoor ministry comes from a concert (Joshua Generation) held annually in Portmore.
Goddy Goddy says he hopes to continue every aspect of his ministry, taking his music to international heights and his outdoor ministry to the four corners of the island.
Next on the agenda, Goddy Goddy says, will be the shooting a video for the song Sure (featuring his younger brother, Prodigy). This he hopes to complete in another two weeks.
Mr. Goddy Goddy is billed to perform at the Barbados Gospel Fest on May 30, after which he will be off to the T.D Jakes Mega Fest in Atlanta from June 23-26.
