By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter 
Cee Josephs's influences and love for singing would not be found solely in her religious roots, as while growing up she was exposed to a lot of R&B music.
IT IS not very often that one hears of a gospel singer whose early environment grooms thim or her to become a professional in that field. However, as far back as she can remember, Cee Josephs' parents and family members were all actively involved in the church and singing/music ministry.
"I come from a family of 12 and we are all singers. We formed a family group that sang in Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) churches across the island and we were known back then, but I'm the only one that is a recording artist," Josephs said.
Growing up, Cee says they were always under strict manners and supervision by her parents, who were devout Christians, and it became the norm for them to attend church and Sunday School, acquiring much knowledge and insight into the Bible.
"Every morning we would have worship, at which we would sing hymns. I know just about every hymn and most of us sing well," Cee said.
However, Cee's influences and love for singing would not be found solely in her religious roots, as while growing up she was exposed to a lot of R&B music.
"Whenever we didn't have night service, my sisters and I would just sit around and listen to music," Cee recalled. A lot of the musical influences in her younger days were very close to home, as Cee recalled meeting the likes of Bob Marley, The Jamaicans and even spending time at the home of Duke Reid, as his wife and her mother were good friends.
RECITING POETRY
"I remember at the age of 5, being on stage at a church concert, reciting poetry. I couldn't remember the lines so I started singing instead," Cee Josephs said.
That would only be the beginning as Cee's father, who was an elder at the North Street SDA Church, went to the August Town chapter as a Lay Preacher, where he was instrumental in building up that church. Eventually, the entire family would move there and they all became actively involved in the church, forming a significant part of the choir and membership.
"At six years I was the youngest member of the choir; my mother was a great soprano and my father sang baritone and played the guitar," Cee recalled.
Cee would soon expand her horizons, as she left Jamaica to pursue studies in nutrition, but after completing both her undergraduate and graduate degrees she went back in hot pursuit of her singing career.
Her love for poetry and writing made it that much easier for Cee to write a host of songs. With steadfast commitment and the help of Junior Gentles in 1997 Cee was able to produce her first album, Peace With Me.
ALBUM PROMOTIONS
"After the album was released I toured all over the U.S. promoting the album at concerts and church conventions," she said. During this time, Cee was privileged to share stages with Yolanda Adams, Direct Messengers and others.
Now Cee has released her second gospel album entitled 3 Way Calling You, God and Me, which was recorded and produced by Daneth Dopwell at Happy Nest Studio in Brooklyn, N.Y., and by Junior Gentles at Jam York Studio in Queens.
Cee describes this second album as being much more contemporary than the first. "It is more rhythmic, as I have become more comfortable in writing the word in contemporary form," Cee says. This is a big accomplishment for Cee, as traditionalist views of her family were opposed to contemporary gospel music from the start.
Cee says there is so much more that she would like to do with her ministry, but the money isn't forthcoming at times.
"Time is short and I am lusting for more people to hear my messages, God's messages, in music. I truly believe He wants me to do this. Singing was always my passion," she said. According to Cee, money or no money, she will continue in her ministry doing what she loves to do best - serving God.
