Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
Renay McKnight - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
THROUGH DEATH came sudden inspiration out of the mouth of a near babe.
The then eight-year-old Renay McKnight rose to the occasion and sang a farewell lullaby for her uncle at his funeral.
"I didn't want to break down while singing, but Daddy came with me for support," Renay said.
Five years later, she is a full-fledged singer, travelling overseas and thrilling hundreds. Earlier this week she was in Cayman, her third trip there, singing at a fund-raising concert organised by the children from West Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Her previous shows in Cayman were in 2002 and 2003, when she was in grades 5 and 6 respectively at Dunrobin Primary. The shows were organised by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA), in association with Hosanna Universal Music (HUM) ministries and George Gordon respectively. "The experience was good; a lot of people were blessed," Renay said.
Renay has also sung at churches, funerals, weddings and local concerts. The 13-year-old has a voice which belies her age and size.
"There is just this passion in me to spread God's word. There are times when I might be nervous, but when I pray and I go up there, everything just flows," Renay said.
The passion not only comes from the heavens, but also from listening to songs by Crystal Lewis and Jaci Velasquez, her favourite singers.
MANAGED BY HER FATHER
Renay's ministry is carefully managed by her father, Wesley McKnight, who takes especially good care of her voice and keeps her under a strict regime.
"I'm really proud of her. My aim is to go all the way with the signing with her. I'm always there reminding her that it is a blessing from God, and she cannot afford to lose out. I make sure she practises as much as possible, eats the right food and abstains from cold drink," said Wesley.
Renay also has support from her family. Her aunt, Marcia Delisser, makes her suits for concerts and her grandmother, Ms. Madge, is a source of inspiration. Both her parents, Maxine McKnight and Wesley, who are singers, noticed Renay's talents from she used to sing with the advertisements. "When Renay was small she usually sing along with the ads on TV. The Jif Peanut Butter ad was her favourite," said Wesley.
There were times when Renay's performance schedule clashed with her academic routine. "When the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) competition came around, the video shoot and the interviews clashed with school, but it always fell into place eventually," said Wesley.
ABLE TO COPE
Despite her hectic schedule, Renay finds a way to cope. "The teachers understood and I was able to catch up. Now I'm used to the regime. When I come back from Cayman, I always get the notes from school. My friends and teachers at Ardenne High are very supportive of me throughout the year," said Renay.
Naturally, her performances take her in the company of grown-ups. In 2002, at age nine, Renay was the youngest entrant in the JCDC Gospel Competition. She was one of the top 10 finalists. However, Renay is still a normal child with normal teenage problems.
"Everyone treats me the same way, just like everyone else. But sometimes, peer pressure can be a problem. You see a certain set of people doing one thing and you feel like you're the outcast. But I always talk to my parents about it, pray and everything works out," said Renay.
Renay and her father have great plans. They are working on an album together. "We've started working on it already. All the material is original. We have seven songs already and we want to get at least 10. Daddy and I wrote the songs," said Renay.
The songs are traditional gospel, and most of them depict the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Renay also plans to teach. "I've always liked teaching, but I'm planning on doing singing along with that," said Renay.
