Sunday, September 2 2007

POPULAR local gospel artistes Winsie-Ann and Sherrose Cuffie recently launched their CD, We Salute You Jesus, at the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York.

The grand black-tie event was supported by several churches and gospel music entities in the United States and elsewhere. Some 20 nations, including Canada, Spain, Columbia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Aruba were represented at the launch.

According to a senior agent of the sisters, Winsie-Ann’s spectacular opening performance at the Yolanda Adams Concert at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain last July, impressed foreign music agents at that show, resulting in “certain positive developments” which played a significant role in “opening the door” to the Madison event.

Under the glare of flashing cameras, and cheering fans the Cuffie sisters and their entourage of musicians and dancers arrived at Madison in a spacious, shining 20-seater white chauffeur-driven limousine. The three-hour show began on a prayerful, but melodious note, with a rendition by Winsie-Ann of track on the CD, Our Father. Sherrose followed, using her mesmerising worship voice to full advantage in the semi-circular auditorium. She led the congregation, which included several pastors and church elders, in worship and praise, belting out traditional worship songs, and concluding with her popular Exalted One.

The programme continued with presentations of dance, songs and instrumentals from foreign artistes, alternating with infectious renditions, from the stars of the night – Sherrose and Winsie-Ann. A number of screens on the arched walls of the auditorium ran video clips of past performances by the sisters. A huge backdrop featured larger-than-life photographs of the singing sisters and their two siblings Candel and Victrina — who accompanied with dancing choreographed by Candel.

Winsie-Ann and Sherrose previously had a Canadian launch of their CD, which was recorded at the Sony Studios in New York. The CD contains 13 songs in a variety of styles, ranging from traditional gospel to R&B, contemporary, rap, hip hop, soca, gospelypso and chutney.

Following the CD launch at Madison Square Garden, Winsie-Ann and Sherrose joined Tennessee- based international gospel superstar Michael English, in a sold-out concert at the Starlite Pavilion in New York.

“It was truly a great experience sharing the stage with Michael. He is an icon of icons and he also gave us nuggets of advice that will certainly benefit us enormously,” Sherrose remarked.

On their experience at Madison, Winsie-Ann had this to say. “Sometimes we still feel as though it was all a dream. It’s definitely beyond our doing and that’s exactly why we have to give the Lord all the glory. It was an overwhelming honour to represent our God, and indeed our beautiful nation Trinidad and Tobago, at such an awesome forum. Thanks be to the Almighty”.

Before returning home, the sisters performed at several churches and summer youth events over two weeks, sharing this wide variety of music.

Sherrose, 19, is a Social Science student at the University of the West Indies, while 15-year-old Winsie-Ann is a student at the Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High of School. They are the daughters of Pastors Winston and Angela Cuffie.