The top ten songs of the 2020 Jamaica Gospel Song Competition have been released and are currently circulating on local and diaspora airwaves, just ahead of the competition’s two-show grand final, which will air on local television on Sunday, July 26 and Sunday, August 2.

The songs, which have been released ahead of the 2020 Independence celebrations can also be found on the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) website and on the JCDC’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

“We are proud to release this year’s top ten Gospel songs.  These soulful songs are sure to bring a word of hope and joy to the Jamaican people, especially in these times,” said the Hon Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

“We are encouraging the public to listen to the songs, truly take them into your spirit and then get ready to vote for your favourite, as the public will be deciding which one of our finalists will walk away with the grand prize at the final show, which premiers on Sunday, July 26,” Grange continued.

Minister Grange also highlighted that the top ten finalists who were previously selected via a semi-final showdown concert earlier this year, represent a wide cross section of the island, which she says speaks to the testament of the talent of our people island-wide.

“Our nation is brimming with talent from end to end, and the top ten finalists for this year’s Gospel Song competition is testament to that. We have seven parishes in total being represented, with nine of our ten finalists hailing from outside of Kingston,” said Minister Grange.

The parishes of St. Mary, St. Catherine and St. James boast the most numbers of finalists with two each, while St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, Manchester and Kingston and St. Andrew each have a representative.

The finalists are: Deon McDonald with You Are Real and Anthony Malcolm with I Need You of St. Mary; Offneil Lamont with Forever God and Father Reece of St. with Satan Gu Weh, of St. Catherine; and Oliver Ashley with No Bargain and Treisha Williams with One Dose of Holy Ghost from St. James. David Sutton will represent St. Elizabeth with his song Our Response, while Clarendon will be represented by Sheri-Gaye Johnson with I Worship You. Hailing from Manchester is the Euphoria group with Live Today, while Kingston and St. Andrew will be represented by Martanek Phipps with Ye Who’s Without Sin.

The Jamaica Gospel Song Competition since its inception in 1987 has since become an iconic presentation of indigenous gospel music in Jamaica. It attracts over 200 artistes, producers and writers of original gospel music each year. This competition is also seen as another avenue for the unearthing and growth of writers, and vocalists through training with the best within the industry.

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