Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
The members of Golden Touch are (in front) Loxely Redwood (left), Kerry-Ann Lewis (second left), Shanna Spencer (second right) and Charles Deans (right). Damion Brown (left) Rene Brown (centre) and James Valentine complete the line-up. - CONTRIBUTED
THE GOLDEN Touch band has grown from strength to strength, and is getting ready to release its fourth full-length set. That album, Make It Home, is 90 per cent reggae gospel. "We like to keep the Jamaican concept of who God is," said Geoffrey Thomas, manager of the group.
Most of the songs are original, and were written by the members of the group. The title track was written by Sherita Lewis. She is also a musician in her own right, as she plays the keyboard a bit. Kerry-Ann Lewis, Sherita's sister, plays the bass guitar at her church.
"We believe that reggae music is the most powerful music in the world. We are using this music to carry the message to the world," said Thomas. "We try to do a little mixture so that everyone have something in it. It's not hard-core dancehall; it's more reggae, like Bob style," explained Thomas.
The nine-member group consists of five women and four men, who take care of the instrumental side of the band. There is a drummer, a bass guitarist, and two keyboard players, while the females do the vocals. Most of the songs were produced by their music director, Dwayne Campbell Fletcher.
FULL OF VISION
"I think we have one of the greatest sets of young people in Jamaica. It's the best chemistry we've had so far. The guys are very talented and full of vision," said Geoffrey Thomas.
The age range of the non-denominational group is 18-26 years old.
The album was recorded and mixed at their own recording
studio at Golden Touch Ministries. They have also acquired a rehearsal studio,
audio system and their own instruments.
Golden Touch's first album, Victims, was released in 1990. I'm Gonna Sing followed in 1994, while Keep Holding On came in 1996. The band celebrated their its 20th anniversary in July 2005, with a show at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre in St. Andrew.
"They all have a vision that one day they'll go professional. I think that they are very mature spiritually and that's one of the things that help the group to go on," said Thomas.
Golden Touch Band has tasted international success with a tour of the United States. The group has performed at concerts with Denice Williams, Shirley Caesar, Sounds of Blackness, Jesse Dixon, Ron Kenoly, Bobby Jones, John P. Kee, Nicholas, Becky Fender, Alvin Slaughter and Brooklyn Taber
In addition to reggae gospel, the band does Black American style gospel, ballads and traditional hymns. They also do extensive promotions in churches, where they perform free, as they believe in spreading the gospel.
AWARDED THE BORIS GARDENER PLAQUE
In 1989 Golden Touch was first-runner up in the annual gospel festival and was awarded the Boris Gardener Plaque for Best Performance. They have earned nominations for the Jamaica Music Industry Awards (JAMI) and the Reggae Soca Music Awards.
In 1996, they copped the award for Best Gospel Recording (With Music) at the Jamaica Music Awards (JMA, formerly JAMI). The group also won the International Christian Music Award for Best Recording Group and were named overall winners in 1991.
With Teshema Graham as their administrator and road manager, Golden Touch Band continues the mission of spreading the gospel through song.
