Whenever Christmas approaches, Noddy Virtue has memories of happy times in his native St Elizabeth. It is no different this year, as he celebrates the season with A Very Merry Christmas, which he co-wrote and co-produced with Paul “Patchie” Wright.

The singer’s first Christmas song, it came from a longing for global joy.

“I was inspired to create A Very Merry Christmas as a result of a yearning in my heart. It felt like a calling to inspire people right across the globe to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas,” said Noddy Virtue.

While writing and recording the song he said there were flashbacks to his youth in St Elizabeth, where most people welcomed the season in a traditional way. He and Wright were determined to portray as many of those scenes in the song.

“Christmas, for me, was an exciting experience, growing up with starlight, fire rockets, balloons. It was an exciting season, our families and friends came together, went to church, had Christmas meals,” he recalled.

Noddy Virtue got a national profile in 2005 when he competed in the second Digicel Rising Stars talent contest. His fierce rivalry with Christopher Martin made the show a must-watch, with Martin winning and him placing second.

Now based in the United States, he has released two albums and many singles.

— Howard Campbell