Chevelle’s Joy

It has been three years since former pop and dancehall singer, Chevelle Franklyn, gave up a promising career in the secular world to commit to a life of Christianity and she shared with All Woman some of the highs and lows she has had since then as well as her difficult childhood years.

She arrived at the Jamaica Observer’s offices very simply dressed and without any make up because she “did not feel like dressing up” that morning. And this some say is the heart of Chevelle very real and unpretentious.

“She puts you at ease. She is a real person that you can relate to because she is so approachable,” says Danny Browne, friend for over 10 years and producer of her recently released gospel album, JOY. “It was like a dream come true for me to work with someone who catches on as easily as her,” he continued.

According to her former producer, Mikey Bennett, however this was not always so.

“When I met Chevelle about nine years ago. She was somewhat of an insecure and timid person but over the years she has matured into a confident singer,” he told All Woman.

Chevelle herself however gives Bennett the credit for a lot of that change.

“Mikey Bennett and Rohan Harrison are two persons who have always encouraged me. They used to tell me that I was one of the best female vocalists in Jamaica,” she said.

This encouragement was precious to her because she never grew up with her dad and came from a very critical family.

“Initially I used to doubt my voice based to some extent on my upbringing. I was never encouraged as a child and this had a negative impact on me,” she said. “I grew up with many insecurities and when I just started out there was one media house that wrote a report that said I could not sing that I sounded like an old cow.”

Discouraged but not deterred she continued singing because for her, music was the only way to survive.

“Initially I did not do music because I loved it. I did it because I could make money and that was the only skill I had to survive,” she said.

Born on March 4, 1974 in Tawes Pen, St Catherine, Chevelle is from a large family of 16 brothers and sisters. At age six she gave herself up for adoption.

“I saw a nice lady passing on her way to church and I asked her if I could go and live with her. She said, yes, and I lived with her until I was 14,” she recalls.

At that age while in Grade 8 at Spanish Town Secondary, her stepmother put her out and she dropped out of school to make it on her own.

“There were some things we (my step mom and I) could not work through and so I had to leave. Sometimes it is still painful to think about, but I have healed somewhat,” she said.

Initially, she tried selling peanuts in downtown Kingston but when that was unsuccessful she headed off to the North Coast to try music.

“It was tough but because I looked older than my age I was able to manage. You could say I was a woman when I was a teen because I had to be paying the bills and taking care of myself,” the 27 year old singer said. She recounts one phase of sexual harassment with someone from the group of friends she used to bunk with. Nights or days without food were also part of the package.

Based on this, she advises teenagers to be grateful and obedient to their parents.

While working between Kingston and Montego Bay she got her first job with producer Ainsley Morris by lying about her age. Soon after her career started to take off.

Her debut single, Here I am came out at age 17 although she had recorded it at the tender age of 13.

“They said I was too young to be singing about being in love with a married man so they held it until I was 17 to release it,” Chevelle said.

Soon came her first major single of Mr Lover Man which she did with Shabba Ranks but got little credit for. Then in 1997 she signed a deal with Island Records which led to her teaming up with Beenie Man to produce the internationally acclaimed, Dancehall Queen.

The single took off and a movie was later made with the same name. Known for songs such as Nice and Naughty and No Pushover she was on the brink of a serious career breakthrough on the overseas market when she decided to become a Christian.

“I was in the midst of my career when things were about to happen but I gave it up for Jesus,” Chevelle said. “I did not do it for the money because I actually make less money now than then.”

“I was just at home and I felt this overwhelming guilt for all the wrong I had done. I did not hear any message or anything but I felt the calling of God,” she said.

Now she has launched JOY which is popular with both Christians and non-Christians. Done to a mostly dancehall groove Chevelle says it is meant to minister to young people.

“Songs like It’s another Saturday Night deal with real issues for Christian young people. It is a real struggle – sometimes you have friends out partying and you feel left out so this is what the song is dealing with,” she explained.

Despite some criticism about the dancehall sound of the album from some traditional Christians, Chevelle is proud of fulfilling her ministry and says she will continue along the same path.

“You would be surprised at the number of young persons being saved by this ministry. And even if they are not saved yet it is better that they listen to positive music like this,” she said.

She is optimistic about JOY’s success and hopes that negotiations with overseas dealers will be successful. She says she has a much more thankful attitude since becoming a Christian.

“I thank him for things like a roof over my head even if I can’t pay mortgage or that I can take a cab even though I can’t afford a car,” she said. She admits that it is still a struggle for her to do her daily devotions or to curb her outspokenness.

“Some people say I am facety so sometimes I have to be careful of that,” she said. She is also happy that much her secular friends have been very supportive of her new lifestyle. She named entertainers such as Beenie Man, Lady G and Chrissy D friends that have not stepped away but have maintained their friendships. Her words to the critics out there were not to look for her and other dancehall Christian musicians like Papa San and Lieutenant Stitchie to fall but instead to be more encouraging.

“Pray for us and don’t throw stones. Encourage us if we fall to get back on our feet. It is a struggle and we are trying our best,” she said.

In her spare time she loves playing badminton, dominoes and basketball. Painting houses and cooking are also things she enjoys and according to Mikey Bennett her cooking is excellent.

What does she want to do over the next five years? Going back to school is definitely an option although she has not decided exactly what she wants to do yet.

“In five years I want to be much closer to God. Careerwise I want to be in a better financial position so I can pay my bills and maybe I will have about 10 kids by then,” she said with a laugh. Hopefully, too, she says there will be more live performances.