Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
BARTOLO
DESPITE KARLENE Bartolo's many travels the Spirit of the Lord has always moved with her, as she moves the hearts of many with her songs.
Formerly Karlene Ewart, the former Grace Thrillers member has lived in Jamaica, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Texas in the United States, and now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, moving often as a result of her husband's job with a Canadian bank.
As Bartolo has done in her many changes of address, her newest album, Father of Light, has crossed cultural barriers. "It's multicultural. The songs on the album minister to both black and white audiences. The music is regular style contemporary gospel. It gives adoration to God, points people to God and tells them that it's not about us, it's about God," said Bartolo.
All 10 tracks on the album, currently being distributed in the United States, are original. Bartolo is hoping to get the album, currently available via CDBaby.com, distributed in Jamaica soon. Father of Light is her fourth solo project, the first being Redeemed. West Indian Praise and Surrendering All Of Me followed.
BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY
With an 11-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter, Bartolo balances family, ministry and music. "It's not just a song, it's a ministry. My song is geared towards touching people, bringing them close to God. He loves us and wants to be our God. My songs impact people in a deep way, not just for the moment, but it will be left with you for a long time," said Bartolo.
"It's always going to be a challenge for an independent artiste. Sometimes the money you put in can't get you to where you want to take your project. In North America, sometimes it's the major label artistes who get heard," she said.
Despite the challenges, Bartolo is dedicated to her calling. "God has called you for a ministry so you got to persevere and push, knowing that there are going to be many challenges," she said.
"Always, my ministry is not just go and sing a song. God has placed a different style in my music. My music is a deliverance ministry. You can come expecting that God is gonna use me as long as I avail myself. My ministry is a healing, prophetic ministry. My heart's desire is to encourage the children of God to know Him and experience Him in a powerful way," Bartolo said.
HISTORY WITH GRACE THRILLERS
Currently in her mid-thirties, the former Grace Thriller started singing in church and around Kingston when she was five years old. "I joined the group in 1985 and left the group in December of 1987. We had some differences at the time and plus it was just time to move on," she said.
Karlene left Jamaica in 1991 and got married when she migrated to Nova Scotia, Canada. With international waters and borders between Bartolo and the members of the Grace Thrillers, she finally met up with some of them again in Toronto, Canada, in December of 2005 at a concert they were both billed for. The former Grace Thrillers had changed their name to Thrillers United.
For now she has settled in Atlanta, U.S.A. and is quite comfortable there. She does not know when and if she will move again, but she is continuing to bless the hearts of many with her music.
