Producer samples Ja gospel classic

Music sampling emerged during the 1990s, when Canute Ellis got into the business as a studio engineer.

He discovered songs from past generations because of that trend, and now he is doing the same. Rescue Me, a song he recorded with his wife Samantha Gooden and deejay Yomek Radic, samples He Saw My Need, a big hit for gospel group The Grace Thrillers in 1995.

Ellis, who was a trainee engineer at Grace Thrillers founder Noel Willis' Kingston studio, believes Rescue Me is perfect for introducing contemporary gospel fans to the music of that group, regarded as pioneers of reggae-gospel genre.

" Rescue Me is just an example of the ways that samples of great gospel tracks over 20-30 years old can be revived and connect with a new generation, [and] a powerful message gets revived. It's not an old message; it gets revived and brought to a whole new audience," he said.

Based in Orlando, Ellis has released four albums and worked as an engineer with a diverse list of artistes, including The Commodores, Kirk Franklin and Beres Hammond.

After leaving Willis' camp, Ellis moved into producing what he calls "street gospel" acts, such as DJ Nicholas.