Adina Edwards—–MENTION the name Adina Edwards to Generation Xers and there’s likely to be a blank stare.
For ‘elders’, she is the blind gospel singer who stood for years on the corner of King and Barry streets playing an accordion and singing Christian songs.
Edwards died April 4, 2008 at the University Hospital of the West Indies, at age 83. She was revered in gospel circles but largely unknown to a secular audience.
Her daughter, Marcia Wentt-Creed is writing a biography about her mother to shed light on one of Jamaica’s gospel pioneers.
“I am almost finished, just have some little more details to see about getting the book out there,” Wentt-Creed told the Sunday Observer from her home in
New York.
According to Wentt-Creed, the bio contains information about Edwards before she went blind and what inspired her foray into gospel.
Although the book is meant to re-introduce Adina Edwards, it is also a fulfilment of a personal dream. The singer wanted to write an autobiography but ill health prevented her from starting.
“That’s what she wanted to do in the last moments of her life, to write a book that would provide guidance and give inspiration,” said Wentt-Creed.
Adina Edwards (she was actually Adina Edwards-Chen) was a favourite among lovers of traditional gospel. Her popular songs included a cover of the Bee Gees’ Don’t Forget To Remember Precious Lord, Just A Closer Walk With Thee, Love Walks With Me and He Touched Me.
– By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston
