Page 5 - ALMI 10TH ANNUAL MOTHER'S DAY AWARD CONCERT

When one thinks of an artist whose music career spans over three decades, has made stops along world tours in South Africa, the United Kingdom, The Middle East, Asia, Austria, Germany, Holland, France, the US, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, Zimbabwe Zambia, and Kenya, and has collaborated with renowned artists like Donnie McClurkin,
Israel Houghton, Micah Stampley, Lionel Petersen and, in her secular career, Shabba Ranks and Beenie Man – all
this while winning multiple awards - then the name has to be none other than Chevelle Franklyn.
Chevelle has had a long and outstanding career in music and is still going strong. She is about to release her latest album titled “South Wind Vol. 1,”
which was recorded appropriately in South Africa. The initial plan was to record two songs in South Africa, but the two songs morphed into an entire album. The album, which is totally about worshipping God, features guest artists from South Africa. Ntokozo Mbambo was a prominent collaborator. Chevelle co-produced the album together with Nqubeko Mbatha and Mojalefa Mjakes Thebe. Those who know South African languages, will get to hear Chevelle sing in Zulu, one of South Africa’s most widely spoken indigenous languages. The lead single from the album, “Go In Your Strength,” which incidentally was written over a span of five inspirational minutes while in South Africa, is set for release in early April 2020.
The highly respected Chevelle started her journey in music as a teenager when she recorded her first single called “Here I Am.” By 1991, her career was blossoming, leading to her featuring on Shabba Ranks’ worldwide hit, “Mr. Lover Man”. She also recorded her hit single, “Dancehall Queen” with Beenie Man, which put her on the international reggae map. Having started as a reggae artist, her turning point came during a live concert in 1998 where she was expected to perform “Dancehall Queen” but instead performed the gospel song, “Silver and Gold” by Kirk Franklin. She bravely made the fateful decision to use that moment to announce that she had become a Christian
and will be singing and recording gospel music from that point on exclusively. She said, “I did not hear a message or
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