BERRY

Andr Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Ryan Berry sang lustily in church and those around him loved it. In fact, that encouraged him to make an attempt in the gospel business.

However, at the professional level he met up on the cold hard facts; it was a competitive field, different from what he was used to at church.

"I found out I had a wonderful voice and people used to come to me and tell me what I do for them when I sing," Berry said.

Now, he is chasing a dream that seems to be running away from him - or not entirely. He has been around the world ministering, but as a back-up singer for international gospel artiste Papa San. Though he has been to places in Europe, Africa, the United States and the Caribbean, he would like to leave his own mark on those trips he makes.

Still he has a lot to give thanks for. Not only does he get to win souls for Christ, but his working relationship with Papa San has also helped him to meet some of the gospel artistes he looks up to. His regular job is backing up San and so he gets paid for that. Not so when he is on his own.

"I think people have that you are doing gospel music and so you shouldn't get paid, but when you listen to the radio and hear the songs you see that it is good stuff. And you are getting the recognition from overseas," he said.

Good music

Berry also said he knows he is producing good music because he is working with some of the best in the industry. He has learnt a lot from working with Papa San in the studios.

Since Papa San lives in the United States and Berry in Jamaica, he takes the trip to Florida for rehearsal, and vice versa. He believes the world has been waiting for a long time for something special and soon they will know what it is. He is talking about his debut album, that he thinks will be a blessing with its "purposeful, soul stirring message which will come from a young man who understands his mission".

A mixture of experiences led him to pen his first original single,Why. This song is his response to the crime and violence that has come to characterise Kingston.

He wants his music to challenge young lives, especially young men, to look to God and turn from a path of death to life. He is not worried about what is to come.

'We all want to have di house and the car, but that will come when the purpose is accomplished," Berry said.