From the tender age of seven, Richie Righteous knew he wanted to sing and by the age of 18 he was producing and writing his own songs through which he tells the world about Jesus Christ.
From his moniker–he was born Richard Ishmael–it is easy to discern that this artist is a man of God and according to him the name means that he has to do what is right.
In an online interview with The Scene Richie Righteous, who has been living in the US for a number of years, spoke about how the difficult the walk along the straight and narrow path became harder when he moved to the United States and was exposed to a new culture. But he kept it together and today can be better described as a ministering pastor as apart from singing he is also pastor of an Assemblies of God church in Jamaica Queens, New York, which was started by his father shortly after he moved his family to the US.
While Richie Righteous was born into a Christian home his father–the now deceased Pastor Mohamed Ishmael– was born to a Muslim family but he left Islam at the age of 17. The senior Ishmael converted to Christianity after hearing a sermon about the good news and the cross preached by Sam Ramphal.
His decision, according to his son, was not taken lightly as his family punished him severely.
“He was beaten and locked out of his house the night that he was going to get baptized,” Richie told The Scene.
Richie’s father persevered and he later became a pastor and ministered at the Eccles Assembly of God Church but in 1991 the family moved to the US and it was in that very year he opened a church in Queens.
“I was turning 13 years old when I migrated… This was culture shock for me,” Richie said stating that he was attending Saint Stanislaus when he left he left Guyana. His schooling in New York, he said, was “totally different” as it was “very violent and the kids were using profanity”.
By then Richie was already into music and he revealed that his father had taken him to the National Cultural Centre and he was inspired to become a musician.
Hip hop
“When I came to New York I really fell in love with hip hop. I listened to a lot of rap. I started rapping when I was 13, it was just a hobby,” Richie told The Scene.
But it was that hobby that got him into trouble, he said, but did not elaborate. But the time he was 18, Richie said he began to produce and write his own songs but by then he was drifting away from his father who was unhappy with his conduct.
When he turned 19 his father passed away and “when he died I rebelled more,” he admitted.
He impregnated his then girlfriend and now wife, Sherry-Ann, and attempted to hide the deed by impressing her to abort the child. But instead she left him and vowed to bring their child into the world and care for him/her as a single parent.
“I was so sad and depressed. As I was driving in my car a song by Fred Hammond was playing and I felt God was saying why do you call yourself Richie Righteous? Don’t I know that righteous just means to do what is right? I felt God saying if I did what was right he would turn my life around.”
That was the turning point of his life, as Richie said he realized how loving God was and that he sent his only son to die for the sins he committed.
“I went to Sherry and apologized. I begged her to forgive me. We got married and my son is ten years old… and he plays drums in church,” Richie revealed.
The couple is also blessed with a six-year-old daughter.
The artiste said God uses him to touch the lives of people around the world. His music is said to be loved not only by a Christian audience but also by those who are fans including rappers Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Eminem.
“Through his music, the grace and power of God is conveyed and lives are truly touched and changed. Rich has been doing music since the age of seven, and in 2005 he released his first album titled ‘Censorship’ which is still in demand to this day. His latest album ‘R.I.C.H’ (Resting in Christ Hands) includes 15 tracks with a very urban contemporary flare that appeal to all audiences,” bio information on the singer by his representatives said.
Richie has toured over 70 cities in seven countries and has been featured in projects such as The Bible Experience (which features actor Denzil Washington and Rev T.D Jakes) and American Bible Society’s Elementz of Life magazine and CD.
He is an award wining artiste as he has copped the EN sound music award for album of the year, single and artiste of the year, the Kingdom Choice. Among other awards were the Marlin Award and has been honoured with a Holy Hip-hop award and has since started a label known as Rich Records with a mission to “effectively communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world”.
“I have been pastoring the church that my dad started in Queens for about a year under my mother’s leadership. She pastored the church after my dad died. I tour and pastor,” Richie said.
The singer currently lives in New York with his family. For more information on Richie Righteous and to listen to his music, go to www.richierighteous.com.
(samantha_alleyne2000@yahoo.com)
