Rev Glen Graham, who died on November 27, had penned many songs including ‘Get on Board’, ‘Send Me A Surplus’, ‘Prepare to Meet Me There’, ‘Six Men Bringing You Back’ and ‘Tell Jesus’, which still resonates with those who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s.
Born in Round Hill St Elizabeth, Graham grew up in Seaview, a community in the same parish. A past student of Seaview and Bigwood Primary Schools, Graham penned and recorded his first gospel song ‘Mother’s Grave’ which was embraced by the church he was attending.
Graham’s music has comforted families, strengthened believers, and helped define an era of Jamaican gospel sound. This is how he is remembered by other ministers.
Garth ‘World Changer’ Garricks
Rev Glen Graham has been a great inspiration in the gospel industry over the years. As a young man growing up back in the 80s early 90s, I can remember every Sunday Morning, you would hear Glen Graham music playing all around the district. Anywhere you turn, you would hear people playing his music. You go in the streets where people were selling cassettes, you would hear his music. This man has so many hit songs that has inspired so many people lives; real true to life, true to meaning songs, that is Rev Glen Graham. He came at a time when gospel music wasn’t much as it is now; even unsaved people turn gospel artistes [today].
Glen Graham came on the scene when you never have much gospel music around, and him make a big break in the gospel music industry, but even though him make a big break, a lot of people might say Glen Graham make a lot of money out of gospel music. Glen Graham is one gospel artiste that did not make money from gospel music because he was not properly managed, he was a very simple person, and he just did it for the love and ministry wise. So because of that, people used the opportunity and they abused him, they used him and sometimes that man would go to concerts and he is not properly paid, sometimes he had to take taxi go back home and God bless what they pay him. While other gospel artistes are reaping big benefits out of gospel music, this man had paved the way for so many of them to reap benefits from the gospel music.
Thumbs up to people like Nadine Blair and a few others who came together to really try their best to help him, but it still was not enough. They tried but they needed others to help.
I remember when he was in Tennessee, I was very instrumental in helping him to go back home as he did not have anybody here and he lost his passport, and he had no money and he was sick. I had to do a GoFundMe along with Jabez and Minister Keisha Peart that we could buy his plane ticket and buy him some things and send him back home to his family. From he went to Jamaica, his situation took a downturn, and he never got a chance to recover; but God sees and God knows.
Garth ‘World Changer’ Garricks
Bishop Orville ‘Manadus’ Smith
Rev Glen Graham, I have known for the past 32 years. He is one of the humblest gospel artistes I have ever come across. A man of noble character and a very excellent preacher. Glen has been one for me … ministry was his everything. Money never get between his ministry, his God and his personal life. He does ministry with a passion. For me, for want of a better word, he is one of the most abused gospel artistes but does what he does anyway. On the other hand, I would say that Glen the songs he sings and the songs he wrote were deeply inspired and because of that, his songs will live on and go long beyond his lifespan because he sings songs that carries a message. He was not a gospel entertainer, he was a gospel minister; his songs always pointed towards the end time and preparation for the coming of the Lord; because of that, I have no doubt that Glen had put himself at a place that now that he comes to chilly Jordan, I have no doubt in my mind that Glen should be able to cross over Jordon. We have lost a giant in the gospel fraternity, and I wish that others would take a page from his humility, example and his stance. Heaven will gain him on the day of redemption.
Bishop Orville ‘Manadus’ Smith
Clive ‘Jabez’ Provost
Glen Graham has been a pioneer in the gospel business in Jamaica. I came to hear about him in the early 90s. ‘Get On Board’ and ‘Prepare to Meet Me There’, those are the songs that drew my attention to him. I still never met him until years later. But then that ability and that Cassio keyboard produces those songs that were legendary at the time. We never had a lot of producers producing gospel in the 90s. But Glen came on the scene, and he made a tremendous impact on the scene with his music. He was a good writer, one of the best. He penned some of the greatest gospel hits in Caribbean gospel. I don’t think he has been given enough tributes and recognition for his work. But nonetheless I always appreciate his contribution in gospel. We have worked several shows together. In fact, I had personally booked him for several Mother’s Day show in St Catherine.
Clive ‘Jabez’ Provost