Christopher Gayle puts a classic touch on gospel

Entering with a vintage soul flavour, Christopher H. Gayle is creating a classic story with his fairly new gospel music catalogue.

Unlike the famed cricketer with the same name, the 25-year-old rising star is aiming to hit high on a different pitch.

The gospel singer says the name was given to him by his grandparents.

"It was originally supposed to be Courtney, but my grandparents made the final decision; I guess it flowed better as Christopher Howard Gayle," he said.

The felt hat, three-piece suit and gentleman shoe-wearing artiste was born and raised in Highgate, St Mary, by his grandparents, who, he admits, have played an even greater part in his overall style and attitude.

"I am a real country boy that grew up in a home that was tuned into the radio station that played old-time classics on a regular basis, and I would sing at church, the Highgate Seventh-day Adventist, and at crusades," Gayle told The WEEKEND STAR. "Even while studying tourism in college, I had a passion for doing music and I really planned out everything, from the classic image I would uphold to the sound I wanted people to hear from me. As Proverbs 22:6 says 't rain up a child in the way he should go'; that is where my grandparents come in, and I thank them for that."

During Gayle's travels, he decided that he would begin investing in his music career.

"I used the opportunity to shop strictly for what my peers called ' church shoes' the first year I went away for the work-abroad programme. The second time, I bought bare button-up shirts, tailored pants and jackets; and the third time I travelled, I got equipment to build a small studio at home," he said. "The only thing that was not planned was for my music to be a hit ... ah God have control over that."

His collaboration with fellow gospel artiste Dwayne 'Dweeno' Mighty, titled The Wall, has been creating waves in religious circles and recently earned four Sterling Gospel Music Award nominations, winning two, Collaboration of the Year and Producer of the Local Hit of the Year.

"It, along with my debut single, Cum By Yah, and most recent release Jesus Fight My Battles, when you put them together, they make a sentence. The Holy Spirit comes around, creates a wall of protection and, in turn, fights my battles or guides me into a positive direction," Gayle explained.

He notes that The Wall is the single that is likely to set the precedent of what his listeners can expect of future releases.

The sound is primarily Afrobeat, and he stands firm that there is no part of his plan that involves crossing into the dancehall-type gospel productions.

"It is doing a lot for us already, with more calls coming in from overseas and in the Caribbean. In islands like Trinidad and Tobago, persons have reached out for bookings; I am committed to do his will more than ever or more than I was doing before the single," he said. "In the end, it is not where I want it to take me, but what I want it to do for others - bless people and impact somebody - and from the responses so far it is more than a hit, because it has meaning."