Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
Kerron Ennis thrills the citizens of Port Antonio at the Cooyah community outreach initiative in the Portland capital last July. Ennis launches her debut album, 'God Is By Our Side', tonight. - CONTRIBUTED
KERRON ENNIS sees her first album, God Is By Our Side, as an avenue through which people can find solutions for their problems.
It is a newly opened avenue, as the 23-year-old gospel singer, who has been a Christian for 15 years, officially launches her debut full-length effort today.
"There is variety in the music, something for the old and something for the young. These are songs that people find relaxing, especially when going through their deepest circumstances or trials," she said.
COME A LONG WAY
Ennis has come a long way and has overcome many obstacles. Conflict with other gospel artistes, however, is not one of the hurdles she has to soar over. "Things so far have been going good. One of the main things for me is seeing the unity of the younger artistes that are coming up. We're like a family and that has kept me going," she said.
Her 16-track album is testimony to this unity, as DJ Nicholas, Michael Cowan, Dennis Rushton, Oral Thorpe and Stitchie are featured on some of the tracks. Some of the songs had been previously released, however, most are new and original. Clifford 'Johnny' Clarke and his wife Margaret played a major role in the making of God Is By Our Side.
SOUL GOSPEL
Kerron's music can be described as soul gospel and she believes that God is exploring different avenues to reach the youth. "Gospel music is changing. God is using different types of music to reach the younger generation. I just have to avail myself in order to be used," she said.
She also noted that the changing face of gospel music is being accepted by many former detractors. "The older people are now adapting to other types of music and are accepting it, so God must be glorified for that," said Ennis.
As her career continues to grow, she has received calls for international performances and is scheduled to perform in Canada in March. "I'll go where God sends me and do whatever He calls me to do," said Kerron. She has also received calls from Europe and hopes that dreams of performing there will be realised.
A member of the Boulevard Church of the Nazarene, Kerron Ennis started sharing the blessing of her music while attending Merl Grove High School on Constant Spring Road in St. Andrew.
"I started singing from eight years old in church, but I really started music in high school. That's where the passion really started to grow and I kinda always knew that I wanted to sing professionally," she said. Some of her recent performances include the Genesis Festival in January 2006 and Dawning in December 2005. Her hit single Daddy Oh is on the album, God Is By Our Side.
