Disc jockey Country Tiger goes gospel

Clarendon-based disc jock Country Tiger recently got baptised and has now rechristened himself 'Gospel Tiger', to represent his new outlook on life.

"I got baptised in June because God called me over. My last show was on Saturday on a Bodyguard cruise, and the following day, God called me over in my sleep, and mi decided to serve Him. I made the decision to transition from dancehall to gospel because God needs me. I am going by the name Gospel Tiger, and I will be playing only clean music in my set and gospel to the world," he said.

The decision will also see the brand Country Tiger having a new owner and manager. Craig Collin, who is from the Bronx in the USA, will be the new owner of the Country Tiger sound, renaming the brand King Mello Country Tiger.

"Based on prior obligations, Country Tiger, aka Gospel Tiger, will have to attend dates up to 2030, but he will be only playing clean music and gospel, so I want people to appreciate and understand that," Collin said.

The disc jockey won a Caribbean championship clash in Grenada in 2012 and that helped to increase his stocks in the Spice Island. He was called the 'Killing Machine' after his exploits and carved out a decent reputation for his ferocity around the turntables.

"Now, I am the God machine, bringing people over to the Lord's purpose," he said

Born Andrew Barclay, the newly minted Gospel Tiger has been a professional disc jock since the late 1990s. The Frankfield district resident has worked with sound systems like Superphonic, Echo Stone and Top Secret. In 2010, he ventured out on his own to build the Country Tiger brand and has been successful in attracting fans, both local and international, by playing at parties and participating in sound clashes.

"This is a true calling, but I am versatile enough to still go out there and play in dancehall and entertain people," he said.