Praising a higher power

Robinson evangelizes in her first concert with orchestra

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

There wasn’t a song that Glacia Robinson performed by standing still during her first concert with an orchestra.

The Jamaican-born gospel singer used up every inch of the space directly in front of the Javacya Elite Chamber Orchestra at the Enrichment Center. She sang, danced and professed her Christian faith throughout a flawless performance last Friday night that Robinson said fulfilled a longtime dream.

Javacya Orchestra founder Patrice Floyd obliged by inviting Robinson to put on a prelude to Easter titled I Rise. It was part of the orchestra’s Art-in-the-Heart concert series.

“It is such a blessing for me,” Robinson said afterward. “God is a God of details. When we present our dreams to him; no matter how small, he is able to make them happen.

“Tonight I can say I ministered with an orchestra. I have had this dream in my heart and mind for such a long time. I’m just excited.”

That wasn’t all she felt when she got word that she’d be performing with an orchestra.

“I screamed, laughed, cried, jump and I was like, ‘it’s really coming true,’ ” she said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m so thankful that dreams do come true.”

One reason that Robinson hadn’t performed with an orchestra before was because the music wasn’t right. Her husband and music arranger Emerson Ally found the right sound while on a trip in Sweden.

“I wanted to make sure for the things that we were already hearing that we could make those things shine through as well,” Ally said.

Although Robinson wanted to perform with an orchestra for some time, Floyd said the concept of having an orchestra backing up a gospel singer is fairly new.

Robinson’s soothing but powerful voice made her the perfect choice to execute the idea. Ally played along on his guitar on almost every song.

“They are amazing and I wanted to make this dream come true for her,” Floyd said.

Although the crowd was sparse, Floyd said the concert served an ultimate purpose.

“This is a crusade ministry,” said Floyd. “We could win more people with music than running our mouths. Music has got so much; people cried and they prepare their hearts for the word of God.”

Robinson had plenty of words to share during the nearly 90-minute show, which she performed wearing a lavender silk gown with sequins. At one point, she encouraged the audience to sing along.

“Be encouraged tonight,” she said during one of her praise moments. “Your future is secured in him.”

Robinson, who has become a renowned singer around the world, grew up in a family of musicians in Manchester, Jamaica. By age 4 she was doing public performances and eight years later, she began studying the guitar.  

  She played on a local netball team and had a desire to become a physician. But a higher power began speaking to her, she said.

“I’ve chosen you to go into all the world,” she recalled hearing. “You will not only sing but you will preach my word.”

That set Robinson on a path that led to missionary and humanitarian work. “That set me on a path that brought me here today,” she said.

Challenges came along the way, though. She had an easier time turning down million-dollar contracts to sing secular songs than she did when she fell ill in the late 1990s.

It lasted five and a half years, starting at a time when she was enjoying early success as a performer. She whittled to “skin and bones” after being touched by what she called evil spirits.

She eventually experienced several epiphanies, mostly a struggle of good against evil. Doctors were unable to diagnose what caused her weight to drop to less than 90 pounds. Failing to get answers in Jamaica, she was moved to the United States, where her decline continued.

She told the audience that she felt her spirit leaving her body. She prayed in the wee hours for change. 

She was resilient the entire time. “I was determined. I was going to sing again.” 

Indeed. 

Years later while rehearsing with her church band in New York, she found love. But her eventual husband, who unexpectedly showed up for a rehearsal and later worked his way to became arranger for the band, said it took several years to get her attention.

Meanwhile, she sought spiritual council about getting into a relationship with Ally, a Guyanese native. He continued his pursuit because the spirit told him to, he said.

“Every time I try to say this is not working,” he said, “I would hear a correction in my spirit and my head.”

Today, they’re working on seven years of marriage and touring. Ally is her tour manger, arranger and producer. Their latest project titled “Symphony of Surrender” is making the rounds on the gospel circuit.

They’ll follow up their stop in Tallahassee with appearances in other Florida cities. Eventually Floyd hopes to have them join the Worship His Majesty Tour.

They may introduce new music along the way, but preaching in songs will remain a fixture, Robinson said.

She’ll continue to tell her story about overcoming death “just to encourage people,” she said. “People need something substantial to hold on too, especially these times when everything that can be shaken has been shaken. We use these moments to inspire and uplift people.”