Carol Gonzalez

Mini-Biography – Carol Gonzalez

I began singing professionally at the age of 18 years in 1978 at the “Jonkanoo Lounge” nightclub, at the Wyndham Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica as lead female singer with the resident band “The Caribs”. As a singer I used my maiden name 'Gonzalez'.

During my sojourn with this band, I performed six nights per week. I performed with this band for about eight months. Sometime in 1979, during my sojourn with this band, a booking agent invited me to perform (cabaret) on the Jamaican hotel/resort circuit.

I accepted the invitation and began to perform as a cabaret artist. I performed as a cabaret artist for about one year. In 1981, I was invited to Manhattan, New York, USA, by Michael and Sandy Fenster, who thought I had the potential to “make it’ in the United States. I signed a management contract with this couple and moved to New York. In New York, my managers commissioned Mr. Danny Holgate, acclaimed Musical Director, of Broadway fame, to structure and implement a voice and stagecraft training programme for me. This training lasted for twelve months. During the time I spent in New York I performed in small nightclubs in Manhattan. Unfortunately at the end of my training, a family emergency compelled me to return to Jamaica, subsequent to which I was unable to pick up where I had left off in New York.

I thereafter remained in Jamaica and returned to the hotel/resort circuit as a cabaret artist. I continued to perform as a cabaret artist for about 5 years. However because I was not succeeding musically at the rate that I felt I should, I switched careers and decided to return to school (the University of the West Indies), where I read for a degree in law.

I passed the Jamaican Bar examinations in 1991 and began to practice in Jamaica as an Attorney-at-Law. While I was at law school and after I was called to the Bar, I continued to pursue my musical career, albeit to a lesser extent, until I was invited by the Chief Justice of Jamaica to be appointed to preside as a Judge at the Jamaican Lower Judiciary: the Bench. I presently hold this position.

After I was appointed to the Bench, I was compelled to give up my musical career all together. (In Jamaica a Judge is not allowed to engage in any activity other than official duties.) I am presently pursuing a doctorate in philosophy (PhD) at the University of the West Indies, in the field of Public International Criminal Law. I must say however, that whereas being a Judge has its rewards, there is just no substituting the spiritual gratification one experiences from being a performer (singer); and needless to say I regret having given up my musical career.

As I noted above, prior to my being appointed to the Bench I had the luxury and pleasure of continuing my vocation as a professional singer. During this period of my life, I represented Jamaica at several musical competitions; most notably the annual “Caribbean Broadcasting Union Song Competition”. For this competition I performed a ballad titled “Don’t Cry Tomorrow” written and composed by Mr. Peter Ashbourne, we placed third in this competition.

During these years I also recorded the lead vocals for several songs, two of which: “Spoilt by your love” and “Second Class”, did very well on the United Kingdom pop charts. Mr. Donovan Jermain, CEO of Penthouse Records Company, produced these recordings. During this time I also recorded a ballad titled “I need your love”, unfortunately due to my aforementioned appointment to the Bench, the Producer of this recording was estopped from releasing it. (To date this song has not been released; the producer has not sought to have another singer re-record the vocal tracks, which would have enabled him to release it.)

One of the highlights of my career as a singer was my performance at “Reggae Sunsplash”, an annual international musical festival held in Montego Bay, Jamaica. On this occasion the audience numbered about sixty thousand. I also had the pleasure and honour of being the Jamaican performer on a jazz show at which one of the Marsalis brothers performed, the venue for this show was the prestigious Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.

During these years I also performed the lead vocals for many Jamaican “jingles” (advertising musical soundtracks).

During my years as a professional singer I performed with many great Jamaican artists, such as the internationally renowned DJ Buju Banton, the internationally renowned band “Chalice”, the internationally renowned singer Boris Gardner and Peter Ashbourne, lyricist and composer extraordinaire.

It is difficult to describe any one “most memorable” moment in my career as a professional singer. I would venture to say that each time I performed on stage was a memorable occasion.

There was one night in particular however, when I received four encores and standing ovations after one of my cabaret performances, that w