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Artist name: Jadee

Birth name: Jerry Dane Sellier

Place of Birth: Marabella San Fernando, Trinidad W.I.

High energy, funky, spontaneous and exciting are some of the expressions that spring to mind when encountering the ministry of Jadee & Altar Call for the first time. After just a few moments listeners will experience the heart of ministry resonating in true unadulterated worship. Jadee’s ministry is an eclectic multicultural blend of contemporary Caribbean and urban American music styles

WAS ONCE LOST

It’s a significant occasion when an artist at the peak of his mainstream career denounces everything and turns to Christ. At the age of fourteen Jadee fell in love with Hip-hop. His song writing skills developed mimicking artist such as Ice Cube, Biggie and Tupac. After pursuing this artistry for three years Jadee landed a compilation deal with a French based label called Rituals Records.

As a Trinidadian Jadee also knew he had soca in his blood, he spent another three years developing this craft, taking part in all major soca and calypso competitions like the International Soca Monarch and Young Kings. Later Jadee was chosen to become a part of one of Trinidad’s biggest mainstream soca bands, Horizon. After one year, gaining hard core soca experience with this band, Jadee moved on to pursue a solo career.

Jadee’s solo career peeked when he landed a two year soca compilation deal with Link Up Records, owned by Chinese Laundry, the most influential and established soca label in the Caribbean. Jadee’s first song with Link Up Record’s entitled “Aye-Yo” went to number One (1) on the mainstream soca charts. Jadee performed at every major Carnival event in the country for the 2000 Carnival season, gaining local celebrity status and the attention of international Promoters. It was then Jadee began touring extensively covering locations such as Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, Jamaica, Montreal, Toronto, Queens, Brooklyn N.Y., Long Island and New Jersey to name but a few.

At the age of 23 and a natural leader of revelry, Jadee made a point of living life to the full. However, the money, fame, alcohol, marijuana, and women started to take its toll on the young celebrity. What Jadee thought was happiness ended up hurting his family and most of all his relationship with long-term girlfriend, Giselle Martinez. At that point Giselle left Jadee and rededicated her life to God, while Jadee (under his contract) continued the next year, 2001 Carnival season. During this period Giselle demonstrated Christ like qualities by encouraging Jadee to leave his dead-end lifestyle and turn to the Lord.

NOW IS FOUND

With the help of Giselle (now his wife) his sister and everyone who prayed for him, Jadee eventually began to experience conviction and saw the need to seek God for himself. Whilst performing through the 2001 Carnival season Jadee took time to attend church. He gradually came to the realization that he could not serve two masters. In the month of March, 2001 Jadee surrendered and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savoir.

Jadee then took his God given gifts he once used in the world and dedicated it for the honour and glory of God. In July 2001 Jadee penned an international recording and licensing deal with growing record label, Flowmasters. Jadee described his style as gospel soca, designed to testify, teach, praise and worship God. He released six (6) gospel singles which made it to the top 10 gospel hits in the country.

To-date Jadee has been nominated in the Marlin Awards for three consecutive years 2002, 2003 and 2004. He took home his first Marlin Awards for the song “God be for me” featuring Sherwin Gardener. Jadee later took the award for Best Gospel Artist of Year in 2005 Soca Awards and was also dubbed Best Male Gospel Artist of the year in 2005 by The Perfect 10 Gospel Show i95.5 FM. Recently Jadee also received a nomination for Best Male Gospel Artist from The Bigger Caribbean Music Awards held on the island of St. Croix.

As a gospel artist Jadee has ministered throughout the Caribbean and North America, sharing the stage with an impressive selection of gospel artist like: Papa San; Carlene Davis; Tommy Cowin; Prodigal Son; Nicole Mullet; Toby Mack; CeCe Winnans; Kirk Franklyn; Bishop T D Jakes, Bishop E McClendon; Sherwin Gardener; Nicole Balloshing; Vanessa Briggs; GitterDan; Monty G and many others.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

In 2004 Jadee released his debut project entitled “Worship and War”, one of the most anticipated albums of that year. The first single, “I Exalt Thee”, shot to number two (2) on the popular Isaac 98.1FM Gospel count down in Trinidad and Tobago. Other radio hits from this album included: “He Reigns”, “Bun Dem Fire”, “Come Out Ah Dat”, “Come to me” and “Strong Holds”. This sixteen (16) documentary varied in style and moods from soca, reggae, R&B to worship and warfare, every track leading listeners closer to God.

In 2006 Jadee released a single entitled “Baptize” from his second album, “Altar Call”. The track was produced by Edgehil Thomas aka Maximus Dan and Sherwin Gardener, with whom Jadee has collaborated with over the past few years. In this controversial song, “Baptize” Jadee called the names of many popular mainstream soca artists and stated: “It’s just a prayer I’m praying for all my friends in the music industry, it’s not to condemn anybody, but to show that God is love because He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Everybody should be baptized in Jesus Name. I just used these artist’s (names) because that’s where I came from and I have a lot of love for them”. The track “Baptize” gained heavy rotation on all radio stations across Trinidad and Tobago and was number one (1) on the UB1 gospel charts in London.

In 2009 Jadee & Altar Call will launch their third (3rd) project, prophetically entitled “Lord of the Suddenly”. True to Jadee’s eclectic style, “Lord of the Suddenly” promises to be a complimentary mixture of Caribbean funk with praise and worship, high energy gospel soca, alternative gospel, reggae, dancehall and hip-hop. Currently the first single release, a Hip-hop track entitled “Imma Holla Jesus” has been taking areas of the Caribbean and North America by storm. With “Imma Holla Jesus” Jadee has proven his prowess at connecting with urban audiences. Following the sentiments of this single release, this album is set to hold many surprises; the best is yet to come.