Firm And Strong is the title of gospel singer Brotha George’s new album, scheduled for release next week. Its lead single, God Alone, was recently released.

The set has 10 songs, several of which Brotha George says are throwbacks to the inspirational sounds he heard as a youth in Jamaica.

“Some of the songs have that solemn sound, more of an old school sound. The original gospel sounds that we grew up on,” he told the OBSERVER ONLINE.

Brotha George co-produced Firm And Strong with Sidney Mills, with whom he also collaborated on Unstoppable, his previous album which came out in 2020. Bassist Leebert “Gibby” Morrison and keyboardist Franklyn “Bubbler” Waul, who played on that set, also contribute to Firm And Strong, so too keyboardist Andre “Dretegs” Hawthorne.

Firm And Strong is one of the last projects that veteran studio engineer Cegrica “Soljie” Hamilton worked on. A close friend of Brotha George, he died last December at age 69.

Other songs on the new album are the title track, Babylon is Falling and Mountain Climber.

Originally from Kingston, Brotha George is the younger brother of Winston Watson, a founding member of roots-reggae trio The Meditations, best known for the 1976 Channel One standard, Woman is Like A Shadow.

He began recording as George Wright in 1978, cutting Secret Admirer for producer Ossie Hibbert. He was a regular performer on sound systems like Soul Imperial and Gemini during the 1980s, during which he recorded songs like Settle Bad Boy and You’re The One I Love.

– Howard Campbell