Cheryl Metivier
A third generation Spiritual Baptist who has had a love affair with music for as long as she can remember, Beverley Irish has become a pioneer of sorts in bringing Spiritual Baptist-styled gospel onto the mainstream musical landscape, both locally and internationally.
Her name and brand have become synonymous with the faith that has survived decades of oppression to emerge from the cane fields, tracks and traces to gain widespread acceptance, notoriety, and recognition in TT, the region, and around the world.
Irish recalls how her late grandmother, fondly called “Mudsy,” recounted tales of being a lookout in the vicinity of the church to warn the worshippers when the police were approaching. She describes Mudsy as her biggest supporter. She told WMN her journey to her present position has been an interesting one, with her love of music always at the forefront. She said singing has been her default, her peace, and her joy.
“I even sang at music festivals during my primary school years.” Now based in the US, Irish ensures she always returns “home” for her mother’s birthday, and to celebrate the holiday that pays homage to the Spiritual Baptist community in TT.
During her early years, Irish said, she had no real interest in following the faith of her mother and grandmother, as she was more drawn to Pentecost. But that was not an option available to her, as her mother had decreed that only one faith was to be observed in her home – the Spiritual Baptist religion.
But Irish said, “I was rebellious,” and was drawn to secular music. She said the type of music didn’t matter, and she would sing to anyone who would listen; and she found audiences who would listen.
By age 18, Irish was pregnant with her first son, Anthony. By this time she was also a vocalist for a small San Fernando-based band named Pearlwinds, owned and managed by Winston and Pearl Hinds, a couple who always tried to support young musicians and aspirants.
After her time with Pearlwinds, she joined the band Tradewinds, becoming its first female performer. Tradewinds’ performances were all locally based, so when she got the opportunity to perform out of TT with the Volts Express she grabbed it! She went on tour to the US, Canada, and around the region.
“Years later, I gave birth to my daughter Jennel. This proved to be a transformative period for me, having become poignantly aware that there was a need to provide a spiritual foundation for my young family.”
She decided to leave the band, return to the church, and devote her life to her family and her faith. She immersed herself in activities at the Mt Paran Spiritual Baptist Church, in La Romain, getting involved in youth ministry, leading the choir, staging concerts, helping with charitable drives, and wherever else she was needed, earning her the title “Sister Bev.”
[caption id="attachment_1074091" align="aligncenter" width="501"] Beverley Irish has released seven original CD’s and one compilation of only sankeys.[/caption]
But having taken on all these responsibili
