Winsome Benjamin - Nathaniel Stewart/ Freelance Photographer

Singer Winsome Benjamin's trek to stardom had a fairytale beginning but it is her strong sense of purpose and dogged determination that have eventually landed her lasting success. Ironically, Benjamin's first real break in the music business was not in Jamaica.

"Actually, my break came one night in 1994 in Germany during a karaoke contest," she told The Gleaner. "I entered and won the contest and as part of my prize I also won the right to tour and perform in Germany with a major band."

Among the cities she toured were Hamburg, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cologne and Frankfurt. She later toured other European countries, including Sweden and Switzerland. And, in May 2008, the prolific singer and musician performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York during the ARAWMA Awards Show.

The church played an integral part in her musical development and she recalls singing in the chapel at four years old. Her father was the pastor of the New Testament Church in Johnny's Hill, near Kellits in Clarendon, so she attended church regularly and also had the opportunity to mingle with the choir.

The True Love singer said early in her career she was also influenced by the singing prowess of Gladys Knight and Whitney Houston.

local singers

She pointed out that she started performing Whitney Houston's songs but soon discovered that she could do ballads. Since then, her repertoire has included pop, jazz, blues, rocksteady and reggae.

Among the local singers who have influenced her are John Holt, Chalice, Carlene Davis, Bob Andy and Ernie Smith, Benjamin actually doing back-up duties for the last three. Drummer Desi Jones has also been a major influence. To date Benjamin has one album to her credit, the recently released Where Birds Can't Fly, which she says is getting a fair amount of airplay.

Benjamin advises young, aspiring artistes to "first of all love what you do with all your heart. It may not be easy sailing, but pursue it and don't give up on your dream".

It appears that the sky is the limit for this talented, alluring and tantalising performer, whose voice can be described as being in the Mahalia Jackson/Dionne Warwick mould, with the sassy melodic tinge of a Sarah Vaughn.

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