Davis

Singer Carlene Davis' religious conversion is the focus of Best of Glory, a compilation album to be released September 1 in the United States and Jamaica by VP Records.

The set will be available simultaneously as True Worship, her latest batch of original songs which will also be distributed by the Queens, New York company in tandem with Glory Music, the label operated by Davis' husband Tommy Cowan.

True Worship is Davis' ninth album of inspirational songs. The first was 1991's Gospel Reggae which was distributed by VP, a company that has made its name marketing hardcore dancehall acts.

"There is an excitement about serving the Lord. It's a daily newness," Davis told The Gleaner last week.

Best of Glory contains some of the songs that announced Davis to a gospel audience. They include Forever Friend, Author And Finisher and Amazing Grace.

After recording the cover album, Echoes of Love, in 1995, Davis converted to Christianity and has since compiled a respectable gospel catalogue. In 2006, she became an ordained minister.

After cutting a follow-up to Gospel Reggae (1992's Jesus Is Only A Prayer Away), Davis resumed her secular career. She said the decision to stop doing 'worldly' music rested on her mind for some time.

"When I made that commitment I never looked back," Davis said.

Born in Clarendon, Davis had lived in England and Canada before returning to Jamaica in the 1980s. She became an established hitmaker thanks to songs such as Like Old Friends Do (a cover of the Abba song), Stealing Love, Dial My Number and Going Down to Paradise.

Her conversion set the tone for similar life-changing moves by singer Junior Tucker, deejay Papa San, and dancehall producer Danny Browne, who headed the thriving Main Street Records.

True Worship and Best of Glory were released in Toronto, Canada in May.