Engineer Paul Mullings in the recording studio at Bionic Records. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

GOSPEL music has been, arguably, the most vibrant sound coming out of Jamaica in the past decade. Once limited to the ears of Christians and church-goers, it has grown to attract thousands of fans outside of its traditional base. Leighton Thomas, president of the International Media Group of Companies (IMGC), plans to build on that.

The IMGC launched its Kingston operations Wednesday with a meet-and-greet session that included a tour of the company's complex which houses a 32-track recording studio and facilities for video production. This is where Finally, a compilation album, was recorded.

Finally is the first recorded project released by Bionic Records, a subsidiary of the IMGC. It features songs by singers Everton Thomas, Samantha Gooden (who is also the IMGC's vice-president) and the Emmanuel Concert Choir as well as pianist Courick Clarke who contributes two instrumentals.

Thomas disclosed that Finally is not a reflection of Bionic Records' future releases which he says will cover all facets of music. "We want to do other genres like jazz and Rhythm And Blues but it's got to be positive, uplifting music," he said. The 33 year-old Thomas acted as executive producer for Finally. His brother, Silbert Thomas Jnr, Thomas, Gooden, Clarke and Paul Barclay -- who wrote George Nooks' hit, No Power On Earth -- each had a hand in the production of the eight tracks.

The son of Bishop Silbert Thomas of the Emmanuel Apostolic Church, Leighton Thomas was born in Kingston but grew up in Florida and attended Fullsail University in Orlando where he got a masters degree in recording engineering.

Along with Gairy Callam, Thomas handled engineer duties on Finally and its release brings the bespectacled head of IMGC's involvement in gospel music full circle. Prior to moving back to Jamaica in March, he experienced the intricacies of the business side while he was owner and manager of the Sound Solutions Studio in Miami, and learned the ropes of artiste management during stints with gospel legend, Shirley Caesar, and star-on-the-rise, Yolanda Adams.

He added that albums from the performers on Finally are presently being recorded and are expected to be released by year-end and in early 2003.

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