NEW YORK, NY -- He has spent the last 20 years shining the spotlight on others in the gospel music industry and now it is his time to be spotlighted, during what is being billed as a once in a lifetime gospel experience on December 8, 2012 in Brooklyn, NY.
Considered one the key proponent in the evolution of Jamaica’s popular music genre – rock-steady/reggae – Hopeton Lewis will be recognized by the Gospel Rail Production organization for his years of dedicated, unselfish work to promote gospel music in the USA/Caribbean community.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Hopeton for what he has done and continues to do to expose the community to those persons who minister in song and the spoken word,” noted Sharon Bennett, a career NYC photo/journalist and producer of the concert event, scheduled to take place at the Full Gospel Assembly of Brooklyn, 131 Sullivan Place, (Bedford & Roger Aves), Brooklyn, NY 11225.
Set for a 6:30 pm start time, the gospel concert will feature Candi Staton, the celebrated American evangelist, Jamaican gospel music pioneer Shirley Willis, founding member of the award-winning Grace Thrillers ensemble, with a supporting cast including; Michael Reid, Marlon (Brother Paul) Anderson, the Visionaires Quarter, Norma Kelly-Gordon, Emmanuel Drysdale, Delroy (Delly) Thomas and friends, among others.
And if that’s not enough, the organizers have added the nationally acclaimed, John Tillery and the Living Sacrifice, from Maryland, to add to the one of a kind, live gospel experience.
“Hopeton is not your ordinary, everyday singer and I am sure the organizers of this event know that as evidenced by the stellar line-up that they have assembled. If no one else, he is most deserving of this award and I salute him,” opined Dr. Una Clarke, former NYC Councilwoman (Brooklyn).
Blessed with a rich baritone voice and a warm personality, while growing up in Westmoreland and Kingston, Jamaica, in the early 1950s, Hopeton Lewis ‘rocked’ the otherwise sleepy popular music landscape with a ‘steady’ slew of hits that earned him the moniker “Mr. Rock-Steady”.
Golden oldies like; Lonesome feeling; Take It Easy; Boom Sha-ka-la-ka; Grooving Out On Life, comes readily to mind. Moving from Jamaica to the USA at the start of the 1990s, Hopeton Lewis changed gears, musically and smoothly from pop to gospel, becoming the founder/president of the Caribbean Gospel Music Awards USA soon thereafter.
Voted Jamaica’s festival song winner in 1970, Hopeton has been recognized by governments, organizations and groups for a lifetime of service to culture. Slowed somewhat by life’s consequences, Hopeton can be heard promoting gospel music with a decided Caribbean rhythm on 92.1 FM, NYC.
One lucky patron attending the event will win a 4 night stay in a Jamaican hotel. Proceeds from the event will benefit the United Deliverance Church of God Building Fund. For information/tickets, please call; 718-314-8878.
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