Though he has been a committed Christian for over 20 years, gospel singer Derrick Scott is not limited by convention. On his new album, Gospel Truth, he experiments with secular sounds to get his message across.
The 12-song set was released on November 10 at Unity New Testament Church of God in Lauderdale Lakes, South Florida. It is the Linstead-born Scott’s third album, following Some Preacher Nowadays and On A Mission.
Two of the tracks, Since I Met You Jesus and God Answer Prayers, are done to the music of songs familiar to Jamaicans —Since I Met You Baby by soul man Ivory Joe Hunter and Neville Martin’s My Leader Born Yah, unofficial anthem of the People’s National Party.
“I do gospel music different from the norm. Gospel has changed so much since I was a boy,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Gospel Truth is produced by Willie Lindo, known for his work with Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond and Boris Gardiner. It is released on Scott’s DScott label.
Scott said the idea to record a song to My Leader Born Yah’s beat came to him during a session at Lindo’s Heavybeat studio in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s a song I always love, so I suggested it to Willie and he said ‘why not?’ (Producer/songwriter) Danny (Breakenridge) and I sat down and tighten up the lyrics, then we did the song,” he explained.
While he was pleased with his previous efforts, Scott said the decision to work with Lindo on his latest album paid dividends. The veteran musician, who also played guitar on Gospel Truth, brought in other experienced musicians such as bassist Robbie Shakespeare and keyboardist Robbie Lyn.
“From time to time when I went to other producers it came out watered down and I wasn’t getting enough out of the music. From I met Willie it’s just been great,” Scott said.
Freddy McKay
A younger brother of singer Freddie McKay ( Picture On The Wall, Dance Dis Ya Festival), Scott was a sound system deejay in his youth. He mainly performed on City Light, a Spanish Town ‘sound’, alongside other budding artistes including Lt. Stitchie and Roger Moore.
In the mid-1990’s he converted to Christianity but still refers to non-gospel sounds on his songs. One of them, Jesus Your Picture is Hanging on The Wall, is a take on his brother’s 1971 classic.
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