Breaking away
Published:Saturday | October 16, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Like many female singers, Sherieta Lewis got her start in the music business doing backing vocals. Recently, she traded places in the recording studio to put her spin on a reggae classic.
Lewis' version of Dennis Brown's Love Has Found Its Way was released in September. Produced by bass player Glen Browne, it appears on his Island Treasure Music label.
In a recent interview with The Gleaner, Lewis said it was Browne's idea to cover the song.
"He mentioned it while we were on tour in Europe with Tarrus (Riley), I know it was done by Dennis Brown but didn't know much about the song's history," Lewis explained. "I tried to keep it close to the original but it was important to put Sherieta's spin on it."
Browne assembled Riley's backing band, Blak Soil, to record Love Has Found Its Way. Leading the way was saxophonist Dean Fraser, Riley's musical director, who played on the original, which was produced by Joe Gibbs.
Brown's version was written by his wife Yvonne and is included on the 1982 album of the same name done for the major A&M Records. It is considered a lovers' rock staple.
previous songs
Love Has Found Its Way is Lewis' latest attempt to break out as a solo act.
Her previous songs include Reggae Is Life, done for Donovan Germain's Penthouse Records; In The Name of Love, which was produced by Fraser; and Lies, which she cut for Rory Gilligan.
Lewis has also been making a name as a songwriter. She co-wrote Let Peace Reign for Riley's Contagious album, and has also written for Marcia Griffiths.
A former student at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Lewis took a break from popular music studies to record and tour as a backup singer. She started as an 18-year-old working with Dominican reggae artiste Nasio Fontaine, then established herself by working with big names including Riley, Griffiths, Diana King, Duane Stephenson, I-Octane and Mavado.
She says the transition from backup singer to feature artiste can be challenging.
"It can become difficult when you know you are guaranteed a particular salary when you are working with an artiste, but I broke away before things became comfortable," she said.