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24.12.2007 General News

Twenty years on, Amy tells it all

24.12.2007 LISTEN
By Jacquiline Afua Bondzi, Ghanaian Chronicle

She has an affectionate smile that will sweep you off your feet and melt your heart; she is so full of life and at the age of forty-seven with eight lovely kids, she has still got her groove on.

This week your exciting Chronicle’s Entertainment driver takes on board Amy Newman, a gospel artist, who has thrilled the Ghana music scene, for the past twenty years, non-stop.

Narrating her story to your train driver, it became evident that twenty years down the line, the road has not only been rough but smooth and pleasant as well, and she has no regrets for her decision of becoming a gospel artiste.

It all begun at the tender age of ten. She would sing whenever she was given the opportunity to do so; as she grew up she sang circular music and never thought of singing gospel music until she was touched by the Holy Spirit.

Amy said, she initially ministered at church, until she partnered with Charlie Sam, now Rev. Charlie Sam, to release seven gospel cassettes. It was after, that the idea of going solo occurred to her.

Thus, in 1994 she released her maiden album, “Oye wadom.” This album made her popular in the music industry, and it did quite well on the markets as well, and she followed up with “God of Mercy”, “Lord I am coming”, “Nyira nka wo din,” and three other albums.

She said, so far she has seven albums to her credit, and to her these albums signify her toil and dedication to hard work, over the past twenty years, which is why she found it expedient to celebrate her twentieth anniversary last week, in Takoradi.

According to her, there are big dreams ahead for her musical career, and the first step she is taking, after her anniversary, is to launch her two-in-one album. Two-in-one, because she has an album with ten songs entitled, “Onyame ho ye dzin”, which she has not yet launched, and has already completed work on another one, which also has ten songs and is titled “Won ngya me”.

The launch of this two-in-one album will take place next week, in Takoradi, and she admits to putting in nothing, but her best towards this upcoming album.

Talking about her life, Amy said she had a lonely upbringing, which she shudders to talk about, and is forever grateful to God for how far she has reached in life and her musical career, including her family.

In describing herself, she said, she is an extrovert, who becomes upset when treated with disrespect, and one particular occasion, that will forever be remembered, by her, was on the 6th of March when the independence celebrations took place.

After she had been chosen as the official musician, to sing the national anthem, and had even auditioned for the day, she arrived at the ceremony only to be told she had been replaced with a UK-born musician, who was said to be daughter of Isaac Hayes.

Without accepting defeat, she sang the anthem, because she knew she was the right person to do so, but unfortunately her name was not on the programme line up, and credit was given to her opponent, whose name was on the programme.

“That day I felt so humiliated, after singing the anthem and I wept like a baby, never have I been treated like trash in my life, and up till date, I get so upset when the issue comes up,” she noted.

She recalls her happiest day, as the day she sang at the national breakfast meeting, where the President of the nation was present, that always puts a smile on her face, anytime she remembers that through music, she was given that privilege.

Throughout the interview, your train driver noticed that Amy Newman was very spiritual, as time and time again, she kept on mentioning the name the Lord, and how she has never stopped depending on the Lord.

Actually, she is a caterer, who has exquisite culinary skills, which she uses to nourish herself and her family.

First time on record, she mentioned that she loved Kojo Antwi for his music, and would die for a ticket to his show. In her view Mary Ghansah is a good gospel musician and admires her for that.

Finally, she told the train that after eight lovely children, the door for new babies is closed, but that of her musical career is open wide, for more music and the best she can give to her audience adding, “At 47 years I am no where close to retiring from the industry.”

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