BASSETERRE ST. KITTS (April 30, 2009) -- British born gospel artist, Luke ‘Duke’ Smith, jetted into the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw Airport Thursday afternoon on his way to Nevis to join family and friends in Nevis where he will among others attend the annual four-day Holy Convocation at the Ebenezer United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic in Gingerland, which opens Friday May 1.
South London-based Luke, who is of Nevisian parentage, will join his Manchester-based parents who had arrived in Nevis several weeks earlier. His mother, Ophelia Smith recently released a gospel CD ‘Songs of Revelation’, which was produced by Luke. She is originally from Cox Village in Nevis. His father Vassel is from Jamaica.
Luke, who is in the country for a week’s visit and is on his third visit to the Federation, began his musical career at the tender age of nine when he began playing the drums at his local church in Manchester. In 1992 he spent two years with the pop group Hot Chocolate during their European tour as their main keyboard player.
He later formed his own jazz band and supported a high level of musicians and singers including Roy Ayres, Hugh Masekela and Earl Klugh. He relocated to London in 1995 and he landed a job in the West End where he made history playing in the 1st gospel musical in the West End called ‘Mamma I Wanna Sing’ featuring world renowned Chaka Khan, Mica Paris and Deniece Williams.
The son of a Nevisian songstress, Luke also made history in 2007 while performing with George Michael. He was amongst the elite bands who were the first to play at the new Wembley Stadium to a staggering 80,000 capacity. He has also worked in TV and radio as musical director, arranger, musician and vocal coach for TV programmes such as Heaven and Earth, Songs of Praise, Children in Need, Pop Idol among others.
He was met at the RLB Airport by his St. Kitts-based uncle, Joseph Ward.
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