Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Sister Carol - Contributed

In the bustling Jamaican music industry entertainers come and go with amazing frequency, with some notable achievements being lost to the next wave of what's new. In the series 'Glory Days', The Sunday Gleaner tracks down and catches up with some of those who have made a mark which, if not erased, has certainly faded. First we spoke with Lady Ann, then Lord Laro. Today, we head to New York to speak with Sister Carol.

Sister Carol has been in the music business for almost 30 years, but still an entire generation of Jamaicans is left unexposed to her work.

Over the years, she has appeared in two Jonathan Demme movies, Something Wild and Married to the Mob, has been nominated for a Grammy, has earned a teaching degree, married and has four children. Nonetheless, her work in music and her interesting life seem to have been overlooked.

Named Carole East, she was born and had lived in a low income Kingston area. Today, many may see this as an upbringing best not mentioned, but it was there that Sister Carol was introduced to and learned to appreciate the slow, sweet meanderings of reggae.

It is, therefore, no surprise that when she migrated to Brooklyn, New York, with her family at age 14, the music had already made a lasting impression on the young Sister Carol and this was reinforced by the already blossoming reggae scene there. From then on, she was determined to pursue a music career as well as teaching, which is also dear to her heart.

How did migrating impact on your knowledge of and exposure to reggae music?

Coming from Jamaica I was already exposed to reggae music because I was living in the inner city of Kingston. All I ever knew is the radio, the jukebox, the street dances, so I was always surrounded by the music. So, I was very conscious of it. Music has always been my life.

What did you want to be while growing up?

Well, when I was growing up as a youth I always wanted to be a schoolteacher and an entertainer. I give the Almighty thanks for everything for me being able to achieve both these things. I have attained my Bachelor of Arts in teaching, but I am not teaching in the classroom right now, I am teaching worldwide now. I am taking my music across the globe. I wanted to be a teacher and an entertainer, so I call what I do edutainment.

When did your first big break come?

I have had so many big things happen to me, but the most international thing was in a 1986 performance. One night I was at a club with Sister Judy Mowatt ... and I didn't know that a director was there. So after performing he came backstage and said that he wanted to do some work with me. He wanted me to be a part of the film Something Wicked and then after that came Married to the Mob. So I got a good amount of exposure, but music is still my first love.

How did you make the transition from deejaying to acting?

It was never difficult really, because I have been blessed by the Most High. I am very happy that I got to be a part of the movies. In Something Wicked I played a waitress and in the other movie (Married to the Mob) I played the proprietor of a salon where Michelle Pfeiffer came to look for work and I gave it to her.

Were those your only two movies? If so why?

So far they have been. But I have also done TV. I used to work on NBC as an announcer for a programme called Night Music.

You were nominated in the Best Reggae Album category (of the Grammy Awards) for your album Lyrically Potent in 1996. How did that feel?

It was gratifying and rewarding to have the international music industry acknowledge me for the work that I am doing. The album was produced by myself and my husband Dean Wauchope and it was a really rewarding feeling, especially when I attended the ceremony. Just being nominated I felt like a winner, coming from thousands of entries to being in the top five.

Were you ever signed to a record label?

No, I was never signed to a major record label. I did recording for Jah Life Records and (others), but I have really been making all the albums myself ... The album that I did that was nominated for a Grammy, Lyrically Potent, was produced by myself.

What do you think was the highest point in your career?

I can only speak of so far, but it had to be the movies. That gave me the opportunity for people to get to know me internationally; they granted me wider exposure.

Where do you think you were most known, Jamaica or abroad?

I would say everywhere. I would love to get more music released and played in Jamaica, but as an independent artiste it is not easy for it to be done. Then it's also not easy because it's a man's world out there and a woman has to work 10 or 20 times as hard to be on the same level as the men.

Would you ever move back to Jamaica?

I'm actually in the process of moving back to Jamaica. I left there at a very early age and I have been back there so often that I never really felt that I left. I have always travelled the world, but I always travel to Jamaica at least four or five times a year.

What has been your most discouraging moment in your career?

I'd have to say me is a very honest person and when I speak the truth I feel like I'm not carrying any weight. So I'd have to say it was in Jamaica in 1987 at Reggae Sunsplash. It was like I was in some sort of halo or something, but I didn't know what was happening. They put me on Dancehall Night and at that time slackness was at its heights. So I felt like I was being thrown into the den as the only woman on stage. The crowd never ready fi Sister Carol. It wasn't really me and what I did - it was just one of them thing deh. If you run a race and fall down, just get back up and run down the other people. So that might have been the most discouraging moment for me. That night really strip me and took me a while to get over it. Sometimes I don't even like to talk about it and I don't even remember that it happened, kind of like I blocked it.

What's in store for your career now?

I just released my 10th album, called 1Derful Words. I also want to continue to tour internationally and hopefully by spring to summer of '07 I'm hoping to launch a clothing line called 'Black Cinderella Clothing Wear' ... I am just thankful for the love and support that people have given me throughout the years. I just say more love, more life, more blessings and I hope that those in the industry will recognise that things need to be more balanced with more women being there.