Contributed
Husband and wife, business partners, best friends ... Carlene Davis and Tommy Cowan.
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. (Anonymous)Misha Lobban, Contributor
Entertainment producer/manager, Tommy Cowan, believes that the foundation of any couple's relationship is that they must be best friends. It was, therefore, not surprising that his wife, internationally acclaimed gospel recording artiste Carlene Davis-Cowan, named him as her best friend.
Regarded as one of Jamaica's most consistent female singers and producers since the '80s, Carlene Davis-Cowan has won over 30 awards, including the 2000 and 2001 Jamaican Federation of Musicians Awards for her gospel albums Vessel and Redeemed, respectively. She is also the recipient of the Federation's Best Gospel Artiste of the Year Award in 2004 for her album, Author And Finisher, and the CARICOM Hall of Fame Award in 2003 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field of music.
Music career
She began her career as a secular artiste, recording an estimated 15 albums, including number one singles such as It Must Be Love, Winnie Mandela, Like Old Friends Do, Going Down To Paradise, and the social commentary, Santa Claus, Do You Ever Come to The Ghetto? Many of these top-selling songs were written and produced with the assistance of her husband and manager, Tommy Cowan.
In 1996, after she was diagnosed with cancer, Carlene rededicated her life to Christ. With a powerful testimony of God's redeeming grace of healing from cancer, Carlene now has a dynamic and successful career as a minister of gospel music, releasing albums such as Rock Me Jesus, which contains award-winning songs like Forever Friend, This Island Needs Jesus, Redeemed, Author And Finisher.
Carlene, along with her husband Tommy, owns and operates Judah Recording Studio and Glory Music, promoters of 'Fun In the Son', an annual celebration of music, praise, worship and missions. The couple has also been involved in a number of outreach ministries, including a summer school programme for over 300 youths in the inner city.
We learn from Tommy Cowan, who has played an instrumental role as promoter/manager in the music career of Junior Tucker, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Judy Mowatt, and the legendary Bob Marley, of Carlene's deep commitment and passion to her ministry as a gospel artiste. We learn of her commitment to making a difference in the lives of youths in the inner city, her mission to help people find their purpose in life, and much more, in this week's feature.
How did you meet Carlene Davis, and how long have you been friends?
I first saw Carlene in 1979 at Dynamic Sounds Studios on Bell Road, where I worked as marketing manager. I enquired about her and was told that she was a singer from Canada, and she was at the studio to record a song. Some time after that there was a concert at the now Hilton hotel and she was singing back-up vocals for Ernie Smith. Her voice was so good that I felt she shouldn't be doing back-up vocals as she had the potential to be a star. I asked Babsy Grange, who had organised the event, to introduce us, and that's when we met formally. At that time I was interested in her creative talent as I was struck by it, and I told her this.
Our relationship developed over the years through a growing respect that I had for her because of her principles. We began to date but in order to pursue a relationship with her it meant that I had to let go of the lifestyle I had at the time. We were together for a long time until we got married in August 1995.
Tell us what you admire most about her, and why you think you have remained friends all these years.
She has many good qualities and there are many things about her that I admire that make her special.
I admire her achievements as a gospel minister and the fact that she will choose to perform for a cause instead of the opportunity to get applause. She has such a deep love for music that she is not driven by monetary reward in doing a performance.
I admire the fact that she knows how to keep grounded and humble despite her many accomplishments.
I also admire the strength of her faith. When she was diagnosed with cancer in 1996, she never complained or asked why. When we were worried or broke down she told us not to worry as the Lord had already taken care of the situation.
She is also very committed, charitable and disciplined, and whatever she is involved in she gives it her all. She is also very dedicated to this life of ministry through music, and people are still mesmerised by this passion she has.
The greatest thing I admire about her, though, is the fact that she took on the responsibility of mothering and caring for my children from previous relationships as if they were her own. She reared them, took care of their needs and even now she is the one in whom they confide and they see her as their mother.
Tell us something interesting about her.
Carlene not only sings but she writes and arranges music and she plays the guitar.
Another interesting thing is that although she no longer does it, she used to celebrate her birthday with a fund-raising event at the Maxfield Park Children's Home in an effort to assist with the needs of the home. She did this for about 15 years.
Now, her social project is centred on organising summer classes in the community of Rema. It involves educating kids, ranging from age four to 16, in subjects such as mathematics, English, computer studies and the arts. She always finds time to sit and interact with the kids and motivate them.
The project is her way of helping to keep these kids off the streets during the summer and it is driven by her desire not just to give back but to help young people find their purpose. Helping others to find their purpose is something we are committed to and that's why we have been doing this project for the past six years.
What are some of the things you talk about when you are together?
Music is our life so that's an ongoing subject of discussion, but outside of that we tend discuss a lot of things like politics and current events here and overseas. We also talk about sports as she tries to follow my interest in cricket.
Share with us one of the happiest moments you have experienced with her.
One of the many happy moments for me was when she received the Order of Distinction for her contribution to community development and to music. I felt it was a recognition she deserved.
We have a happy life because we enjoy life together and so we have many happy moments. I still date her, surprise her and do spontaneous things for her. She likes nature, and so do I. We also enjoy travelling and so we tend to do a lot of that together.
Tell us the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Carlene, and why.
Relentless, because she never stops pursuing what she believes God has destined her to do, which is to minister through music and to help others to find their purpose.
More importantly, whenever I think about her I question my purpose in her life, and I believe it is more than just to be a husband and friend. I believe my purpose is to be a protector and a support in her life.
What are her favourite food, favourite music and favourite sport?
Carlene is very health-conscious. She doesn't eat meat, only fish and vegetables.
A diverse range of gospel music. She also likes songs by Aretha Franklin and Simon and Garfunkel.
She is a runner but she is not really into any sporting activity as her life is dedicated to the music ministry.
Tell us the colour that you associate with her:
Yellow - signifying someone you'll never forget
Orange - signifying someone you consider your true friend
Red -signifying someone you really love
Green - signifying someone you has had a significant impact on your life.
I associate all the colours with her. She has changed my life. She is someone I really love, someone I will never forget and she's my friend. I believe that when you find a good woman, you find a good thing and I have found that in Carlene. She is a gift God has given to me.
Define for us what you consider to be a true friend.
Friendship must be built on love, respect, truth, understanding and wisdom. A true friend is someone who you can tell the truth. A true friend in the greatest essence of the word is one who will lay down their life for you. Our relationship is built on truth, respect, understanding and commitment, and if tomorrow I discover she needs one of my kidneys in order to live I would give it to her. At our wedding I remembered saying, "If she dies I die."
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