Arnold Kelly is a Jamaican Broadcaster. Easily recognized by his trade mark contagious laugh, Arnold has won the hearts of many who have invited him into their lives on a daily basis via the most ubiquitous broadcast medium–Radio. Arnold was born and raised in a Christian household. Being the youngest of eight (8) children, he followed closely the example of his older siblings, always being very active in church even from a very tender age. Being comfortable behind a microphone comes from these early days at Vaughansfield SDA Church in the hills of St. James, Jamaica.

This 1983 Graduate of Cornwall College got his first taste of radio when he ventured through the doors of JBC Radio West; a community service radio station operated by The Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. He was responding to an invitation for interested persons to participate in a one week Introduction to Broadcasting course in July 1986. During that week he was selected as one of the hosts of a new program “What’s Right With Teenagers”. After about a year of waiting his hopes of getting a full time job in radio faded and he moved on to work as a photographer / videographer at his brother’s photo studio in Clarendon. While there, he grabbed every opportunity to be emcee or commentator at any school function, community sporting activity or concert, without even a thought of the need to be paid.

In 1988 a position became available at Radio West and he received the call he was waiting for.
Arnold moved back to Montego Bay and started working as Technical Operator and resumed as host of “What’s Right with Teenagers”. The doors kept on opening and when one staff member migrated, it created the need for a new host for two (2) 15 minute features; a Gospel program and a Country Music show. He was encouraged by station manager Marline Stephenson to audition for both. To his delight he was accepted for both features and was on the air that very weekend. While working at Radio West, Arnold was also freelancing as cartoonist with the Western Mirror.

In 1990 – The Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation sold JBC Radio West to Western Broadcasting Services and station became Radio WAVES (Hot 102) Arnold continued with the new company as technical operator and got more involved in on-air work. His Sunday morning show “Sunday Cavalcade” recorded the highest listenership for Radio Waves. He married Christine Watt in 1991, two years after they met at a gospel concert in his home district. The union produced two (2) daughters; Chris-Ann and Arnolique who have both inherited multiple talents from their parents.

In 1993, in addition to the Sunday program, he took on the morning show and other features including writing, producing, and hosting the morning comedy “Long John’s Short Tales” It was also during this period that he introduced nineteen (19) year old Ron Muschette to the airwaves. Ron continues to be a big hit on Jamaican radio. In February 1993 Jamaica welcomed Love 101 FM, the island’s first religious station. General Manager Winston Ridgard who had only recently moved on from Radio Waves issued an invitation for Arnold to join the team at Love.

After much thought and prayer, Arnold said good bye to Radio WAVES and joined the staff at Love 101 FM as Producer/Presenter in May 1994. This move to Kingston also provided him an opportunity to take on the challenge of further study at The Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) University of The West Indies, Mona where he successfully completed a diploma in Mass Communication in 1996.While at Love FM Arnold also hosted “Caribbean Breeze”, a daily four (4) hour afternoon radio show on The Caribbean Gospel Network (CGN). The network served some 20 stations in the region from its base in Miami, Florida.

His love for the region strengthened when he visited Barbados for a Love FM broadcast and was invited by Barbados Gospelfest producer Adrian Agard to return for Gospelfest the following year. That spurred a greater interest which saw him adding other islands to his itinerary. Because of Love FM’s already tight schedule the station only aired specific features from CGN. As a result, much of the rich Caribbean music being played via the network was not being heard in Jamaica so when “The Grace Thrillers Inspirational Hour” ended its final season on Love FM Arnold proposed a one (1) hour Caribbean music program to fill the slot. His stint on the satellite network also came to an end when CGN discontinued the live satellite service.

Arnold was still determined to continue his relationship with listeners in the region he had come to love and so in 2004 he started to explore the idea of working with announcers from other Caribbean stations to develop a weekly program to be aired on stations across the region. One of the first to respond was Linda “Chocolate” Berthier, an announcer at Prayz FM, St. Lucia who not only accepted the invitation but also brought on board her co-worker Winston Florent, a technical operator to form the first official Caribbean Hour team.

The first program aired on four (4) stations in February 2005 and has seen as many as twelve (12) stations airing the weekly show and special broadcasts. In addition to being the official broadcast team for The Marlin Awards, The Caribbean Hour has provided its partner stations with live and delayed coverage of many other Caribbean events including Barbados Gospelfest, St. Vincent Gospelfest, The Maja Awards, Grenada Gospel Splash, Genesis (Jamaica), Fun In the Son (Jamaica), Cayman Gospel Festival, Jamaica Cultural Development Gospel Festival, Pilgrimage (T&T). The team has also hosted broadcasts in St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St.Maarten & Anguilla and a number of Caribbean shows staged in the USA.

Arnold has served as a Marlin Awards judge for several years and has also been a presenter at The Marlin Industry Workshop. As a radio announcer he has had the opportunity to interact with and interview many gospel greats including Bill Gaither, Don Moen, The Crabb Family, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams and Michael W Smith. Perhaps one of Arnold’s most rewarding experiences was introducing Ayiesha Wood’s music to Toby Mac, founder of Gotee Records and then seeing the success story unfold including the call to say she was nominated for a Grammy Award for her debut album.

In 2006 Arnold resigned from Love FM to take join the Media Services Department at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) as Coordinator, Media Affairs. With the formation of the new NCU Media Group he now serves as Acting Manager for NCU FM which is set to be launched in November 2010. As for the future of The Caribbean Hour he remains committed to seeking ways to continue being the link connecting the artists with opportunities to be heard, whether on the radio or on the stage both at home and abroad. In his words: “We are one Caribbean, it’s only a little water that separates us, let’s bridge the gap”.

The group was founded in 1962 and introduced a new and dynamic sound to the face of Bahamian Gospel Music during the 1960s. At this time The Bahamas was booming with sensational quartet type harmonizing groups like ‘The Region Bells’, ‘The Andros Mighty Clouds of Joy’ and ‘The BBC Singers.’ However, even amidst this plethora of other gospel sensations, ‘The Redemption Gospel Singers’ screaming roar talent, incomparable choreography and bold fashion made many STOP to acknowledge this new storm of Authentic Bahamian Gospel Fever.

The group started in 1962 as The Redemption Trio including founder – The Late Apostle Charles Wallace, his wife – Mother Marilyn Wallace and cousin Wellington Wallace; after which it evolved into The Redemption Quartet made up of the existing trio with the new addition of George McCartney and Verna Gilbert. In 1965 the quartet became known as The Redemption Gospel Singers with other new members including Oswald Poitier, Dennis Wallace, Harold Mackey, Stephanie Wallace – Leadon, Eshmael Martin, Alan Mottershaw and others.

The Redemption Gospel Singers has ten (10) recordings to its credit including six (6) albums, one of which included the most popular and longest lasting Number 1 record in Bahamian Gospel Music History, the 1966 hit single “You Need Jesus in Your Home” written and led by Wellington Wallace. Some of their other great recordings include ‘Help Me Jesus,’ ‘Keep Toiling On’ and ‘Lead Us to a Better Land,’ which noted and nationally acclaimed Broadcaster and Bahamian Music Promoter, Charles Carter says highlights this group’s ability to accurately mirror and express aspects of the social landscape of the country during that time.

The group received even further acclaim performing with international gospel greats such as ‘The Mighty Clouds of Joy’ and ‘The Five Blind Boys of Alabama.’

The Redemption Gospel Singers also functioned as a springboard for launching other noted Bahamian Gospel Artists into the industry. Some of these artists were Ossie Andros (Rev. Oswald Poitier), The Gospel Elevations, The Gospel Pioneers and Evangelist Mother Rachael Mackey and The Andros Mighty Clouds of Joy. This outstanding group and its leader (Late Apostle Charles Wallace) also played a vital role in national development through radio programs, feeding and youth development programs such as The Breakfast Club where hundreds of children were fed in The Bain and Grants Town Community.

Sadly, on January 19th, 2010 the group’s leader and founder – Apostle Charles James Wallace, Senior Pastor of The Apostle of The End Time Church in Bain Town went home to be with The Lord. Nevertheless, this awesome legacy continues with the formation of The New Redemption Gospel Singers led by the son of The Late Apostle, Elder Allan Wallace. In the words of The Late Apostle “…be strong…and just keep toiling on”

Written by ‘Lady Shema’ Poitier & Rev. Oswald ‘Ossie Andros’ Poitier