Terrence Lewis

WESTERN BUREAU:

His face is a popular one in Montego Bay. Some may know him as 'Terry' the photographer, or the young man who once jammed at Market Street corner selling gospel CDs.

Born Terrence Lewis more than 30 years ago, at 16 Barnett Lane in Montego Bay - the same birthplace of Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, former Reggae Boy - Terry proudly said: "Me and Tappa born same place. we went to Catherine Hall Primary and on to St James High School (then Montego Bay Secondary)."

The last of 25 siblings, life was never an easy road for Lewis, as he received absolutely no form of maintenance from his father, who died when he was only six years old.

Living by those memories, Lewis decided that when he grew up, he would never abandon his children. It's a promise he has kept.

After a failed marriage, Lewis is a single parent caring for three children, ages 14, nine and six.

"I enjoy being a single parent. It seems there is some blessing that surrounds it. I wash, cook and clean for them and I instil values in them.

"It was just my mother alone who cared for me from birth. She was a vendor at the Charles Gordon Market, someone who became popularly known as 'Miss Lettie' - the lady who sold the tamarind balls, grater cakes and other products," Lewis remembers.

A devout Christian, Miss Lettie juggled dressmaking and hawking to feed her children. Two years ago, she received two awards from the Faith Temple Assembly in Montego Bay for her years of dedication to the church.

Lewis' experiences in the inner city are similar to those of other young boys. "Life was really rough for me. I started selling kisko pops at nine years old to send myself to school. When I started going to secondary school, I sold baked peanuts and used the proceeds to buy a bicycle and a goat and would sell a goat or two sometimes," he shared.

Night job

As he recalled the days, he burst into laughter: "While my classmates were sleeping in their beds, I was out selling peanuts in bars and nightclubs up to 4 a.m. Sometimes, I waited until the gamblers collected their winnings and they would tell me to serve everyone at the table. That used to sweet me.

"After selling, I would go to the market and make my bed on top of stalls and sleep until daybreak, as it was too risky to go home that late. I would then buy peanuts, go home and bake them, then off to school.

"By the time I reached school, I fell asleep, because I was often too tired to keep up. When I woke up, all my classmates were eating peanuts and laughing at me. My school reports said I was always late," Lewis said cracking up.

Forced to fight

He also recalled the days when, as a pre-teen, tensions were high during the political tribal-war era between men from top and bottom Barnett Lane. He was trained by older men - against his will - to fight and use a gun, Lewis revealed.

Had it not been for the values his mother had instilled in him, Lewis said he would probably have died.

"Thank God fi mi madda. She continuously brought me to church and that changed my life and I became a Christian after leaving school."

He became a drummer in the Western Gospel Promotions Band and the Dynamic Gospelaires Band before becoming a vocalist. His cover versions of Unfinished Tasks, Love Grew and He Knew Me are played regularly on Lynx FM, Irie FM and Love 101.