RHONDOR DOWLAT Saturday, March 25 2006

CHERYL Dunn has always felt her calling was to sing and she has been singing from as far back as she can remember. The Lord confirmed her feeling was right! Dunn of Canada released her first CD project Anybody Else, produced by Carmen Barry in September 2002.

Her album received four nominations and won the “Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year” at the 2003 VIBE Awards. She was also nominated for three awards at the 2003 Canadian Gospel Music Awards and performed at the awards ceremony.

This remarkable country gospel singer is in Trinidad for performances until April 5. She is being hosted by Trinidad and Tobago Christian Outreach Centre which is headed by Pastors Phillip and Susan Samlalsingh. She will also be hosted by Kelvin Corbett Ministry.

Dunn’s music has a vibrant sound complimented by a bright and compassionate personality. However, being an award-winning country gospel singer is a far step from where Dunn’s music career first began.

Dunn grew up in a musical family and at the tender age of eight she began playing and singing with her brother. At 12, the young musician was involved in bands and playing in clubs and by age 15, bars were a way of life. After ten years of the bar scene she was unhappy and disillusioned — she’d had enough.

Dunn pursued another vocation in search of fulfillment. In the meantime she met and married police officer Jim, and together they have four children. Dunn faced yet another of life’s struggles as she stood by Jim in his battle against cancer. He is cancer free but it was only through growing faith that she was able to rise above it all.

What’s different about Dunn’s music now is that as she describes it, “I felt lost without the pleasure and creative outlet of music and never seemed truly fulfilled. Through the Lord’s gentle leading I came to understand my talent is a God-given gift. Just like the lyrics to the song ‘Anybody Else would have left me crying but not You,’ I now sing with purpose.” Dunn will be ministering at the following churches for the rest of her visit:

March 25 - Trinidad and Tobago Christian Outreach Centre (San Fernando) at 5pm

March 26 - House of Praise, St Augustine, 9.45 am and Revival Time Assembly (San Fernando) at 6.30 pm

March 27 - March 29 - Jesus Deliverence Church, Quarry Village, Siparia, at 6.30 p m nightly

March 31 - Couva Revival Centre, Couva, at 6.30 pm

April 2 - Maranatha Christian Assembly, Tobago,at 9.30 am

April 2 - Moriah Miracle Centre, Tobago, at 6.30pm