The Levys continue to follow their heritage

Gospel artiste Minister Lubert Levy was not far off the mark when he predicted that his 23-year-old daughter Oshin and his two sons, Oneil, 26 and Ovando, 30, would become a force to be reckoned with.

The trio, known as Levy's Heritage, won the Sterling Gospel Award for Best Gospel Group of the Year last March, and they were nominated the previous year.

"It became second nature after a while, and in 2005 when we formed Levy's Heritage, we never looked back," Ovando said.

It is not the first award that the group has won, having acquired a Maja Gospel Competition award and the title of Junior Gospel Stars one year after Levy's Heritage was formed. They also moved on to win the JCDC Gospel Song Finals in 2012, following in the footsteps of their father who was the 2004 winner.

"The group is doing well; we are honoured that we can be called the top group in Jamaica ... " Ovando said.

The eldest of the Lubert Levy offspring, a music teacher at Southborough Primary School, said that their objective is to educate the younger generation, especially the up-and-coming gospel ministers/recording artistes.

"Our father is a stickler for professionalism, as that is how he was raised in life; always on time or before time; and stressed the importance of working on the craft to perfect the craft," he said. "We believe in building, and we are not afraid to share the information and knowledge passed down to us."

He said that the gospel music industry is shifting, and it is becoming commonplace for the voices of gospel singers to be heard.

"It can get better even though a lack of education still exists. The newcomers need to know about the industry, not only the worship side, but the business side as well," he said. "There are many groups that have gone mainstream, like URIM 7 and Perpetual Praise, since persons have realised the benefit and marketability of the word."

Levy's Heritage went on their first tour in 2017, performing around Florida. They are currently working on releasing their second album, which features some of their popular songs, like Spiritual Shout, Ever Be and Power Medley.