Winston Hussey shares his victory with this little girl after being crowned Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival Song winner on July 26 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Winston Hussey, the 2009 Festival Song winner, has been singing since 1979 but he is just getting the recognition he has been yearning for over the years.

"It is still a great feeling. Still a sense of joy. When I go in the streets, people still recognise me as the Festival Song winner," Hussey told The Sunday Gleaner of his newest title.

He won the Festival Song crown on July 26 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre with Take Back Jamaica, ahead of nine other acts.

Based on his confidence, Hussey said he knew he would have won.

"I wasn't surprised because there was this fire burning in me. Is like mi know seh mi a go tek it. I can't speak for them (the other contestants), but based on the roadshow, when I come off the stage and the response I get from the people, I just know seh mi a go tek it," Hussey said.

This was the first time he was entering a competition and Hussey was reluctant at first. But with encouragement, he decided to enter.

"Mi neva really waan do it and him (Hussey's friend) seh mi nuh have nutten fi lose. Mi neva see myself a create a festival song but him tell mi seh mi can do it," Hussey said, while noting that he laughed at the idea initially.

new experience

This was quite a new experience for Hussey, who has been singing for many years. He started music in 1979 but had his first hit single in the 1980s called Face Look Good. Before migrating to the United States in 1993, he also did an album called Girl I Adore on the Volcano label. He said the album was never released in Jamaica but he saw it in record stores in the United States and Britain. After returning to Jamaica in 2004, he also recorded and produced another album, which is yet to be released.

"Most people know the name and the artiste, but not the face. This festival thing is a good opportunity fi just tek up back the saddle and ride," Hussey told The Sunday Gleaner.

In the same breath, Hussey said he will not allow himself to be pigeonholed as merely a Festival Song winner.

"I never knew I had it in me to create a festival song, so it tell mi seh I can do more things musically," he said. "It open up a new chapter in my life. We nah go stay as Festival Song winner. My aim is to be one of Jamaica's best artistes. I have the material and I know I can do the work. I think it will open doors. A just me fi push and go with the tide."

Since winning, he has written four songs but they have not been recorded. As for his last album, Hussey said he will not release it yet, as he wants to build his fan base first. And, he plans to invest his million-dollar cash prize in the music.

strong points

In addition, Hussey noted that one of the strong points in the competition was how the contestants presented their songs onstage. He also learnt more things about music and performance.

But he believes that more can be done to advertise the competition.

"More coulda put in fi advertise the roadshows inna di communities. Most of the towns we been through, the people dem never know seh wi a come," Hussey said.

He suggested that the competition be started earlier so that the videos and the songs would be out earlier. Over the years, he said the public only hears the songs when it is already time for the finals. But with the competition starting earlier, people would be more accustomed to the finalists and their songs.