By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter 
ATTENTION ALL Junior Tucker fans! Brace yourself for a third gospel album from the former child prodigy by year's end.
Speaking from his home in Clewifton, Florida, Tucker revealed that plans are in the pipeline for his next album; however he highlighted that the preparations have just begun.
"I have kind of been writing and getting ready for the next album; it's in writing stage. I hope by summer I can begin recording in order to get it out by the end of the year," reasoned Tucker who migrated to the United States four years ago.
"It depends on how things flow, but my aim is to get it (the album) out round about Christmas," he said.
Additional good news for fans of the 36-year-old singer, who was christened Leslie Tucker Jnr., is that he will perform next month at Fun in the Son in St. Ann.
It has been a while since local fans got a dose of the energy that Tucker brings to the stage. This is largely due in part to the fact that Junior Tucker, who got baptised in 1997, is focused on the ministry he has been called up for at his new place of worship, New Harvest Church.
For the past nine months Tucker has held the office of Worship Leader at the church, where he is in charge of everything music related, which includes the choir and the band amongst other things.
The former Trench Town native has been attending the New Harvest Church, pastored by Bishop Tony Miller, for two years. Tucker was introduced to the Bishop by David Keane, who pastors the Family Church on the Rock here in Jamaica.
Prior to that, the Kingston College 'old boy' and his family attended the Covenant Community Fellowship Church for two years. The licensed minister, who was propelled to stardom after winning the Tastee Talent Contest and signing his first album deal with Island Records at age 12, says his newly assigned responsibilities have kept him very busy.
"Once upon a time I could just come Jamaica come hang out for two, three weeks with no hurry, but these days because of my commitment to the church I have to schedule my time," stated Tucker with a sense of purpose in his voice.
He told The Gleaner that the office at his church is not all that keeps him busy, he still ministers through word and song at other assemblies.
"A lot of the work is in different churches, singing or preaching; that is where God has me," he said. "I am full-time in the ministry. Right now I consider myself to be in training for the ministry."
Although he and his family are living overseas, Tucker says Jamaica and its people still hold a place in his heart. "Jamaica is still my home. I just have a love for my home and people," he said.
Will he return to Jamaica to live?
This is a question for which Junior Tucker says he has no prophetic utterance. While he may not know what the future holds, he declared that he knew who holds the future and in Him the answer lies.
"I don't know what God has in store for me and Jamaica and I don't know if he will say come back to Jamaica...., my life is in his hands."
