Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Husband and wife, business partners, best friends ... Carlene Davis and Tommy Cowan. - Contributed

Rastafarian-turned-Christian Thomas Lincoln 'Tommy' Cowan, has been making big strides in gospel music and for this he has been reaping awards.

In October, he received the Order of Distinction in the rank of an officer at the national honours and awards ceremony, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Cowan, who has been in the music industry for more than 40 years, said he was happy to have received the award.

"I was humbled by it. I did not do the job with the expectation that I would get an award for it, but because I loved what I was doing. It is humbling when someone recognises what your contribution was, and gives you an award for that," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

But, he is no stranger to being lauded.

Music Awards

Over the years, Tommy Cowan has received various accolades from organisations, such as, the Jamaica Federation of Musicians, Supreme Promotions, Synergy (of Reggae Sunsplash fame), Rockers Awards, the JAMI Awards, and Martin's International Reggae & World Music Awards.

He has also received a honorary doctorate of divinity from the Trinity Theological Seminary of South Florida for his work in the gospel. He is also ordained as a minister to preach the gospel. In addition, Cowan has received the Rocksteady Union Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Jamaican music, the Mega Jamz Award for Gospel Promoter of the Year in 2007 and the Maja Award, also for Gospel Promoter of the Year.

"They (awards) were always good. It is always good to get an award for your work," said Cowan.

He has been making a positive mark on gospel music through his company, Glory Music.

Converted

Thomas 'Tommy' Cowan receives the award for contribution to the Jamaican music industry at the ceremony of investiture and presentation of national honours and awards at the National Indoors Centre on October 20. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

"Back in 1996, when my wife (singer Carlene Davis) and I got converted, we were there for people like Junior Tucker, Papa San, Judy Mowatt (who also left secular culture to join gospel)," he said. "We worked on the careers of people such as Moses, Ziggy Soul, DJ Nicholas and Prodigal. We took them all over and exposed that music (reggae gospel)."

In addition, Cowan said he started his annual show, Fun In the Son concert, which helped people to associate artistes' songs with their faces. He credits the series as being the premier gospel show in the Caribbean.

Through Glory Music, Cowan has been at the helm of many other shows, including Wynter Fest, the Gospel Train series of concerts, Reggae Sunsplash Gospel Night 1998, Gospel At Sunset, Gospel On The Beach, Choir Fest and Best Dressed 50 Fest.

At the company, he also produces songs. In addition, he writes for several artistes, including his wife, for whom he has written This Island Needs Jesus, Jesus is Coming and Hand Full of Salt. Performing is no longer a priority for Tommy Cowan, but he recorded a song with his wife called By Any Means Necessary.

While he has achieved a lot in gospel, Cowan still has fond memories of the work he did in secular music.

"I have many memorable moments. I remember being in Zimbabwe with Bob Marley. And there is also the One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium," said Cowan, who sang in a group called The Jamaicans (formerly The Merricoles) in 1964.

Peace Concert

At the famous One Love Peace Concert in 1976 Bob Marley invited then Prime Minster of Jamaica Michael Manley and Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga to shake hands in a gesture of peace before a country racked by political violence.

At the time Cowan was working at Tuff Gong with Bob Marley.

After Bob Marley's death in 1981 Cowan returned to manage his company, Talent Corporation. And as Jamaican culture and music continued to receive international recognition, rocksteady was back in demand. Cowan went on to book and manage some of rocksteady's leading names such as John Holt, Leroy Sibbles, Junior Murvin, Dobby Dobson, Ken Boothe, DJ Scotty, Bunny and Scully and Hortense Ellis. Then, there was the phenomenal combination of Lloyd Parkes and We The People Band and Dennis Emmanuel Brown, dancehall deejays Papa San and Lt Stitchie, as well as new-wave reggae rockers, Carlene Davis and Junior Tucker.

Good and bad memories

But with all the good memories in secular music, Cowan does have some bad ones.

Cowan continues to do music, although mostly in the background. However, he still does select shows and gospel events.

"I have to be quite satisfied that I do the right shows for the right purpose. Music is very influential and I have to make sure that whatever I am doing is something positive," Cowan told The Sunday Gleaner.

In the upcoming months he will be going with his wife to shows in Canada and England. He is also making preparations for Fun In The Son, which will be held in March.