Jermaine Edwards is ready to deliver at ‘Fun in the Son’

For almost two decades, the name Jermaine Edwards has remained synonymous with gospel music excellence across both local and international markets. So much so, that in a conversation with The Gleaner, the artiste joked about the generation of people who can now say they ‘grew up’ listening to his music.

“Bwoi! I’ve been doing music from 2005 – it’s been a while. So sometimes me feel a way when people seh dem grow up pan Jermaine Edwards,” he said, laughing.

“But it is truly an honour because you are writing the status of your future, and I am proud to be synonymous with good gospel music from Jamaica,” he added.

Edwards has been listed as one of the heavy hitters of popular gospel music experience Fun in the Son, which is slated to return on April 20 at the National Stadium in Kingston. The event has been a long-standing staple in the gospel music industry, and for Edwards, has its place on the global stage.

“I’ve been doing Fun in the Son for over 10 years now. It would have been the first show to bring anything called excellence to the gospel music fraternity. So we have to give that brand respect,” Edwards said.

This year, the Beautiful Day singer is joined by international gospel sensation Kirk Franklin, who returns to Fun in the Son for the third time. According to Tommy Cowan, co-conceptualiser of the event, Franklin’s return represents the movement of the Holy Spirit.

“Fun in the Son doesn’t select its artistes based on popularity or anything like that. We pray about these things because we think the kingdom of God is bigger than anything else. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals who we need. So we were led in the direction of Kirk Franklin,” Cowan said.

The veteran music producer also said that Franklin’s music “resonates” with believers and carries the potential to lead “people and non-believers” to Christ.

At the end of the day, Jermaine Edwards believes that is the most important part of the equation – leading souls to the Kingdom of God.

“The mandate is to be the salt and light. We must be among the people, to be relevant to the people with good moral fibre – which is what is missing in Jamaica these days – good morals. So the mandate is to be necessary, relevant, and to let our light so shine before the world,” Edwards said.

Fun in the Son starts at 10 a.m. with The Best Dressed Chicken Village, featuring a food court including some of Jamaica’s favourite food vendors. The evening will culminate with the much-anticipated gospel concert from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

“This island needs Jesus, so what we are coming with is a worship experience – we need God in the mix. So, it is not about what we will be performing, but how the Holy Spirit will be moving,” Cowan said.

kenrick.morgan@gleanerjm.com