Award-winning Jamaican recording artiste Glacia Robinson released her latest gospel album, “Hands of Mercy,” during a special performance at Food For The Poor’s (FFTP) Coconut Creek headquarters earlier this month.
Robinson’s concert was one of the biggest highlights of Food For The Poor Day, a day long celebration of faith, optimism, and the charity’s longstanding commitment to transforming lives in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The album was produced, recorded, and dedicated to FFTP, a favourite charity of Robinson and her husband and producer Emerson Ally.
Robinson, an inductee in the Caribbean Gospel Music Hall of Fame, said she hopes that everyone who hears her soul-stirring music will be inspired.
“I pray they will be uplifted and encouraged to serve others,” Robinson said. “I hope they continue to carry that light wherever they are and be a blessing. That’s what these songs are all about.”
Robinson’s resume lists her as a songwriter, composer, praise and worship leader, and author. Her faith in God is what drives her.
In an interview with FFTP, the multitalented singer said she still has strong ties to her homeland, Jamaica, where she is a household name, and to FFTP, which was founded in the United States 42 years ago to help the poor in Jamaica.
Robinson was first introduced to FFTP about 20 years ago when she toured the charity’s old offices in Deerfield Beach, Florida. In 2007, longtime friend Delane Bailey-Herd, FFTP’s Director of M
ajor and Principal Gifts, invited her to sing the National Anthem at the groundbreaking for FFTP’s current offices and warehouse on Lyons Road in Coconut Creek.
“I always tell Glacia that she has captured the sounds and the words of heaven and brought them to the earth for us to be able to enjoy them,” Bailey-Herd said.
It was during that visit that Robinson was inspired to come up with the song, “Hands of Mercy,” which 17 years later became the title of her latest album.
“When you think about what Food For The Poor represents, that’s when it just hits me,” Robinson said. “That’s what the title of the album should be.”
In 2020, moved by the overwhelming news of the spread of COVID-19 and wanting to provide hope and comfort, Robinson poured out her heart in one day and wrote the lyrics to a song titled “We Are One.” The song became the theme of FFTP’s annual national event, We Are One, which Robinson co-hosted in 2021.
FFTP President and CEO Ed Raine asked Robinson if she’d be interested in doing an entire album of songs for the charity.
“Even before he went into the details, I said, ‘Yes,’” Robinson recalled. “To me, that confirmed that if he was asking us to do it, it’s something God would want us to be a part of.”
Robinson immediately began to work on the songs with her husband.
“We started praying about the songs and producing the songs,” Robinson said. “I received them one by one. (Emerson) would get the music at times, like a divine download, and then I’d get the lyrics. It was back and forth between Emerson and me. It’s just such a joy.”
What started as an endeavour to produce about 15 songs turned into 30 tracks.
“This has never been done in the history of Food For The Poor,” Robinson said. “We are both humbled and honoured to be a part of this pioneering achievement.”
The two-disc album features Nicollette Mendes on “Free,” Sabina Ebba on “Child of Purpose,” and Ally on “Guitar Prayer.” The photo on the album cover was taken by Hilda Perez, FFTP’s Photo and Media Managing Editor.
Raine said he is thrilled with the results.
“Glacia is not only a talented artist but also a cherished friend of Food For The Poor,” Raine said. “Her commitment to our cause is evident in every note of her music, and we are honoured to collaborate with her on this meaningful project.”
Robinson said the process of songwriting always begins with prayer.
“Lord, what do you want me to hear?” Robinson said. “I looked at the vision of Food For The Poor and the significance of the work that [they] do. I keep seeing messages and words of encouragement, like hope and dreams. I would just hear these words and these melodies, one song at a time.”
Ally said the songs come to them differently.
“For instance, I may just be writing the music, not knowing what it’s going to lead to,” Ally said. “And she’ll hear it, pray, and come up with a melody and lyrics to go with it. And then vice versa. She’ll hear a melody and the lyrics and start singing them. And I’ll start building music around it.”
The album includes a variety of languages and musical genres and correlates with the overall mission and vision of FFTP.
Fifty percent of the proceeds from Robinson’s album will support FFTP programmes.