Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter
Gospel singer Judith Gayle. - CONTRIBUTED
THE LIFE of gospel singer, Judith Gayle, has truly come full circle, from a young child seeking freedom from a restrictive Christian home, to an experienced woman ministering the gospel through her music. Though many in the gospel arena are already familiar with her music, only a few are aware of her interesting life story.
While growing up in a strict Christian home in Sewel Crescent, May Pen, Clarendon, Gayle said she was the average rebellious and naive child, curious about the secular lifestyle. Though both parents proclaimed Christianity as the true path in life, they did not fully reflect these ideals in their relationship. "It was difficult growing up in a home with separated parents. They used to fight a lot, sometimes even bringing me into their disputes," laments Gayle.
ENTICED BY MUSIC
As far back as she recalls, Judith was always intrigued with music, singing in her church choir from an early age and even travelling to the Cayman Islands to perform in 1983. At 14, she entered herself into the Tastee Talent Competition and though she didn't reach far, those who heard her acknowledged that the child had talent.
The ambitious teen even took a job at the Guinep Tree Supermarket, where she earned a mere $80 per week. "Eighty dollars was a little money, even in 1986, but I still managed to save $30 each week and I still have that account to this day," said Gayle.
At age 16, the budding singer desperately wished to leave her home and, upon hearing that she had a brother in Negril, the teenager spontaneously packed her belongings and took the first train available to Westmoreland. Though she was a naive young girl in a strange place, Gayle testified that the Lord was with her and guided her to her brother's place of business.
Judith's brother, Franklin Gayle, was a successful business operator in Negril at that time, having a variety of businesses, including the 'Tropical Fantasy' club, and readily took in his sister. The singer terms that time in Negril as a 'learning experience' as, for the first time, she was fully exposed to the secular life and was actually fascinated and drawn to it. But, through all the changes in her lifestyle, her singing remained her greatest love.
WANTED BY MANY
"There was this old guitarist that my brother had employed to play for the tourists at his establishment, and I remember sitting with him everyday and singing folk songs like Day-Oh and What A Night," reminisced Judith.
Word soon got around of her musical prowess, and she was invited to audition for a singing job at the Hedonism II resort. Not only did she get the job, but after a few performances, many other hotels wanted to hire her, including Grand Lido, Beaches, Swept Away and Point Village. "It took a while to adjust to this new secular life, but as an inexperienced girl, it seemed so sweet, so I dived right into it," stated Gayle.
After staying in Negril with her brother for two years, Gayle was making enough money to purchase a car, her own house and still have cash for almost anything she desired. At that time, Gayle was making an average of $15,000 for a 45 minute performance and three times that many on special holidays. She was also doing back-up vocals for Richie Stephens and, in 1998, placed second in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Popular Song Competition with her first single, Mi Na Lef Jamaica.
However, after a decade on the hotel circuit and enjoying a financially successful 'secular' life from her variety shop and rearing chickens, Judith, who 'always had a holy fear', knew that God was watching her and disapproved of her lifestyle. It was in summer of 1999 that Gayle said that she felt her first calling from God to return to righteous living.
"I was lying in bed watching TV when I suddenly started to cry and couldn't stop. I then heard a voice speak to me and I felt like I was on a journey and the tour guide said to me 'if you should die now, what would you do with all this that you have achieved?'" stated Gayle. She felt an urge to pray and, before she could position herself to do so, she said her knees gave way and she shouted "help me God!"
The very next day, she was due to travel to Kingston to visit an ex-boyfriend who was married. Gayle said that in Clarendon, she felt the urge to visit her old church, where the pastor inveigled her to stay for the sermon. "It was Friday, August 21, 1999, a day that changed my life forever. It was as if I were Saul on the way to Damascus, about to persecute myself with my sinful lifestyle," remembered Gayle.
Judith remembered listening to a powerful sermon that she felt was meant for her and, after hearing Carol Carridice perform a song called Roof Up Above Me, she started crying uncontrollably as she knew that she was being given a second chance.
DEDICATED TO THE LORD
Judith Gayle has now come full circle and has dedicated her musical career to gospel and ministerial works. In 2000, she released her first album, Jesus Is Alive and, in 2003, installed her sophomore effort Sun Shines Again, garnering a series of gospel hits, including the title track, Anchor Holds, and Up On This Rock. She has earned top status on the Canadian gospel circuit and has won a Mahala (MAJA) Award in Canada.
"Only the mercy of God could have kept me from utter destruction and so I serve," states Gayle.
Now embarking on her third album, Broken To Be Blessed, Gayle says that it will be better, more powerful, anointed, soul-stirring and heart-mending. Gayle is scheduled to launch her album in Canada in November, and in Jamaica by next year.
The singer says that in secular music, one aims simply to entertain, but with gospel, the performer has the platform to minister to people through the music. Being saved from a secular life has deeply impacted on Judith and she promises to forever serve the purpose of the Lord.
"No matter what you experience in life, always remember the One who said, 'let there be ...' and He will never turn His back on you," said Gayle.
