‘Slingshot’ Ep brings new life to gospel classics
Oh If I Miss Heaven, a song by gospel music pioneer Reverend Glen Graham, has been given new life after being sampled for Nah Miss It, by Canute Neil Ellis, Jason Mighty, J.DAT and Orville Sutherland.
That song has been number one for multiple weeks on the GLN Top 10 chart, compiled by GL365 Network, a respected Caribbean-American Internet radio station.
Nah Miss It is one of six songs on Slingshot, an EP Ellis produced that was released last year. On it, the singer collaborates with neo-gospel acts, sampling songs by trailblazers like Graham.
In a recent interview with Observer Online, the Orlando, Florida-based Ellis said Slingshot met all expectations.
“Without a doubt! Slingshot brought a unique energy to the collaboration that elevated the songs to new heights. Their artistry and dedication are unmatched, and the synergy we created in the studio translated beautifully into the final product,” he stated. “Working on Slingshot was a true privilege, and I couldn’t be happier with how everything came together to make Nah Miss It and other tracks a success.”
Those “other tracks” include Undefeated (done with Zabbai, DJ Nicholas and Cario Young) which samples Lester Lewis’ Winner Man; My Cry (with Golda McFarlane and Tiffany Hall) which samples Marvia Providence’s Hear My Cry Oh Lord and Rescue Me (with Samantha Gooden and Ryan Chew), which revisits The Grace Thrillers’ He Saw My Need.
Ellis developed an appreciation for reggae-gospel pioneers like The Grace Thrillers while working as an engineer at the recording studio of Noel Willis, their founder, during the 1990s.
Graham, who is from St Elizabeth, endeared himself to gospel and secular fans during the 1970s and 1980s with songs like Prepare To Meet Me There and God Will Answer Me. Oh If I Miss Heaven remains his signature recording.
Now in his 70s, he has faced health challenges in recent years. Graham suffered two strokes and a heart attack in 2024.
