5 Questions With Heather Cummings

Media personality, artiste, podcaster and businesswoman Heather Cummings is one of the 2026 honorees at the Excellence in Music Ceremony 2026 organised by Back 2 Da Future Music Limited in collaboration with Royalty Network Inc.

Formerly known as the Grammy Certificate Ceremony, the event returns to Jamaica on Tuesday, September 15, for its sixth staging at The Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston. This year’s staging will recognise contributors associated with Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated projects, while also presenting British Phonographic Industry (BPI)-certified silver, gold, platinum and multi-platinum discs to select honorees, alongside Grammy Certificates.

Cummings’ list of credits as a backing vocalist for some of reggae and dancehall’s biggest names is a testament to her prowess as a harmoniser par excellence.

She sang the hook on the title track for Shaggy’s album Clothes Drop, and her harmonies can be heard on Sanchez’s Never dis the Man and on his entire gospel album, Who is this Man; on Singing Melody’s Want You Back; Luciano’s Sweep Over My Soul; Good Buddy by Fab Five, Psalm 23 and Magic City by Buju Banton, Give it up by Benjy Myaz, as well as several popular soca hits by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, several albums by Beres Hammond, Sly and Robbie, Beenie Man and many more.

A graduate of Church Teachers’ College and The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Cummings started touring with Black Uhuru in Europe while working in media. Her bio states that this opened the way for her to tour with several other artistes, including Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Luciano, Beres Hammond, Sizzla and Buju Banton, and to eventually step out on her own as a solo artiste.

Heather Cummings was happy to chat with 5 Questions With... this week.

1. You have toured the world and recorded with heavyweights like Shaggy, Sanchez, Luciano, and Byron Lee & The Dragonaires. What is the secret to being a great background vocalist, and how did you earn your nicknames?

The secret to being a great background vocalist is paying keen attention to details in the preparation process, which entails listening to and studying each song carefully to ensure that the right texture and flavour are added [to] all pieces. I’ve been given a few nicknames by Buju Banton, Maxi Priest and Dean Fraser ... Fedda Map, Fedda and Fedda Weight, respectively. I just think they all call me these names because they rhyme with Heather.

2. Legendary saxophonist Dean Fraser was instrumental in nurturing your talent. What is the most valuable lesson he taught you about navigating the music industry?

Dean played a vital role in shaping and moulding me as a background vocalist in the early ‘90s when I sang both studio and live vocals. He taught me different techniques in approach and application. He was very strict with me during our recording sessions. The nod of approval sometimes after a few tries indicated that I had nailed the project.

3. Having spent years helping other artistes achieve hit records, what was the catalyst that made you say, ‘It was time to focus on my own original music’, and led to the release of songs such as ‘People Change’?

I always wanted to express myself as a solo artiste in order to directly touch and heal others, so when the opportunities presented themselves, I made use of them.

4. How uplifting and encouraging is the Grammy Certificate recognition for you and the industry in general?

The Grammy recognition is a reminder to always be passionate in whatever I do. I am also extremely grateful for the opportunity to appear on Grammy-winning and nominated albums. Last year, I received four certificates for Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated reggae albums. The nominated albums are Shaggy’s Clothes Drop; Sizzla’s The Messiah; and Beenie Man’s Art and Life. The winning album is Sly & Robbie’s Friends. This year I will be receiving for one of Beres Hammond’s albums, One Love, One Life.

5. Many fans know you from your days doing weather reporting to hosting Kool Rhythms on Kool 97 FM. How do your two worlds, radio broadcasting and singing, feed into one another, and how do you balance all of that with being a mother?

Both radio broadcasting and singing have intertwined beautifully over the years as together they spell entertainment. It’s a beautiful combination and balancing both has been quite an interesting journey. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity of doing them simultaneously. I managed to balance it all over the years. My baby is now grown, so I’m currently exploring options in these aforementioned capacities as well as those that encapsulate operating an advertising production, talent and booking agency.

BRAWTA

You have spoken about a time when you felt broken and questioned if you were “good enough”. What was the turning point that led you to put the pieces back together, and what is the message in your music?

My music always carries hope and healing. Once you focus on the lyrical content of each song, you’ll realise that you will be able to relate. The turning point for me was recognising, while soul-searching, that I’ve been given the specific responsibility by the Creator to be the voice to carry the message to those who need to be uplifted.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com