André Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Jermaine 'Gamaliel' Edwards - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

Jermaine 'Gamaliel' Edwards had his coming-out last weekend at the 'Ketch A Fire' gospel concert, held at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Hope Road, St. Andrew.

Virtually unknown on the gospel circuit, he was not sure how the crowd would have received him, but they did, with arms wide open.

"It was my first performance in Kingston and to see the people react like that, it was amazing," Gamaliel said.

It is probable that if he continued on his current path he will be catapulted to the same heights as some of the very same gospel artistes he now admires. With Prodigal Son as his 'spiritual father', he said he could not be any better company. He is only 16 years old, but long before he gave up his secular rhymes for more fulfilling librettos, he was on the rise in the secular world.

At age seven, Jermaine started to make rhymes and his own melodies, covering popular songs at the time. At 11, he began to appreciate different genres of music and different artistes, with his favourite artiste being the fire-burning Capleton.

A shooting incident backstage at Bling Dawg's Summerjam caught Gamaliel in reach of the bullets fired.

"I began to think what it was worth to be out there. I was getting the forward, but anything could happen," he said.

Making the transition

It became clear what he needed to do. He said making the transition from a little rascal to an upright man of God was the work of the Lord and he considered it a job well done when he was able to draw another soul to good.

It is also good that he can use his status to influence his peers at Titchfield High, where is currently pursuing nine Caribbean School Examination Certificate subjects.

Before things started looking up for Gamaliel, life was difficult. He grew up with his mother, stepfather and four siblings. His father and mother separated a few months before he was born. Through the hard times came a desire to become something great. Irrefutably, he is well on his way.

His older brother, Steven Marc, is an actor who has had minor roles in The United States, and most recently, a Revlon commercial with Halle Berry. Gamaliel too has his eyes set on making it in the acting world.

For now, he is focused on his studies and is bringing in more sheep to the fold.

"It is fun talking about the Lord. It is surprising to everybody that I changed. They are saying if I can get saved and baptised then anybody can. In a way, that is a good thing," Gamaliel said.