Heavenlies depart for gospel awards
Today three members of the Heavenlies Gospel Band left the country en route to the Bahamas to attend the Caribbean Gospel Marlin Awards. The group is nominated in the Soca-Calypso category for the song “Hands in the Air” from their 2004 CD, Next Level. But according to band leader Burton Brooks, the song almost didn’t make it on the album.
Burton Brooks, Leader, Heavenlies Gospel Band
?We had already recorded our album, we did everything and Sherwin just said, [Trinidadian accent] ?You guys dah from Belize man, you have to represent.? And we didn?t have a soca song or a punta song, so myself, Gilbert and Ian, we separated in the room and we came up with the song like in half an hour or a little more.?
?I think the reason why they chose that song is because it?s different from everything around in that area, because it?s local; it?s representing Belize. It has the punta riddim.?
?For us, we have already won. Just being nominated is the greatest honour we could have ever hoped for. If we win, it?s going to be awesome for the ministry. It?s going to be a real big deal and for the country of Belize. Having a group representing, because we are representing Belize, because it?s the Heavenlies from Belize. Not just the Heavenlies, but from Belize. We are representing, so you guys root for us, alright.?
Brooks will be flanked by band members Gilbert Gordon and Ian Mariano. Nominated in the same category is Trinidadian artist Sherwin Gardner, who is featured in “Hands in the Air” and also co-produced the Heavenlies album. The award ceremony takes place on Sunday in the Bahamas.
