The Silvertones of Barbados
The Silvertones of Barbados (formerly the Nazarene Silvertones of Barbados), was established in November 1981as a ministering gospel group. At that time, the entire membership was from the youth and Sunday School Departments of the Cave Hill Church of the Nazarene, which was our home church. Since then, the group has widened its membership, and is now inter-denominational with members affiliated to a wide cross section of churches in Barbados. The group operates under the registered business The Silvertones of Barbadosname of Silvertones Ministries which has an affiliation to the Gospel Music Association of the USA.
Our goal is to evangelize the world, move people towards Christ, and winning souls for the Kingdom of God, through a powerful, effective and professional music and dance ministry. The group is also seeking to enhance and promote the development of local gospel music and dance through high quality gospel concerts and other related events at the local, regional and international levels. We are very passionate about becoming this country’s premier international gospel artist, and will make use of every available overseas opportunity to achieve this goal. In addition, the group will use its overseas opportunities to effectively market and promote Barbados as a top tourism, conference and cultural destination.
Since the inception of the group in November 1981, it has shifted personnel as singers grew up and moved on, but has remained a leading force in a new era of Caribbean gospel, blending sacred message with the infectious rhythms of the region. In this regard, the Silvertones of Barbados has been energizing gospel music in a way that people can now feel the warmth and rhythms of the Caribbean.
Members are in their teens, 20s and 30s and now represent a new generation of excellent messengers of the gospel for the modern style of music and dance that is used in a fresh way to bring people of all ages to Christ. The group ministry in song and dance is expertly and tightly coordinated, that by the end of sets, people can been seen rejoicing, clapping, shouting, jumping and praising God with much excitement. As a trend-setter and a leader in providing high quality ministry performances and gospel concerts in the Caribbean and internationally, the group has been able to inspire and attract large audiences with its effective ability to communicate the message of the gospel through their powerful, dynamic and spirit-filled singing and dance where ever it ministers. Over the years, the group has established a firm place at the pinnacle of Christian music, and has become one of the most award winning gospel artists in the history of local gospel music. Being recognized as a house-hold name in Barbados and the Caribbean, the group is known for its versatility in performing a wide variety of musical styles including, reggae, ska, soca, spouge, calypso, urban, country, inspirational, praise and worship, traditional, and contemporary.
Harold Britton and Allison Norville-Forde
The group is managed by its founder leader and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Harold Britton, while the gifted and talented Mrs. Allison Norville-Forde is its musical director. At present, the membership consists of twenty- eight (28) persons comprising eighteen (18) females including three (3) dancers, and ten (10) males including a five (5) member accompanying band with two (2) keyboardists, a drummer, a rhythm and a bass guitarist.
The Silvertones of Barbados has performed at numerous community and national events, and at churches, concerts, revivals, weddings and conventions locally, regionally and internationally. Performances were also given to over 45,000 people on four occasions at the International Church of the Nazarene Conventions and General Assemblies at the RCA Hosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana (July 1993) and (June 2001), the Alamadome Stadium in San Antonio, Texas in 1997and the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, in June 2009. The group has shared the stage with leading local and Caribbean gospel artists such as the Grace Thrillers, Joseph Niles, Shine the Light, Jerry Lloyd, Nicole Ballosingh-Holder and Promise; and internationally, with Ron Kenoly, Rise’ Joiner, Jeffrey White, Bishop Clarence E. McClendon, Kay Morris and Rachel Washington.
In April 1998, the group was specially invited by the government of Barbados to perform at the historic inaugural National Heroes Day Celebrations in Barbados, where an estimated 25,000 people were in attendance while many others watched the event live on national television. In November 2008, the government of Barbados, once again invited the group to minister at its Independence Celebration Sagicor Lighting Ceremony at Independence Square in the city. Over the years, the group was involved in TV recordings such as: Youth in Concert, Time to Sing, and a Barbados Tourism Authority video-taping for international promotion called "Splash Barbados, which was shown on international television networks in Canada, US and Europe.
The group has won numerous awards, including the Flame 2008 gospel choir/chorale of the year; made tours to most of the Caribbean Islands, including St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Martin, Tortola, and Anguilla; Bermuda, and various cities and states in the USA including New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Maine, Washington DC, Maryland, Boston, Connecticut, and Orlando. The group was nominated for the 2010 choir/chorale category of the Barbados Music Awards. It has also produced six CDs to date as well as many annual concerts.
Our website address is www.silvertonesofbarbados.net, |
