Carlene Ford

My musical journey spans over 30 years and is deeply rooted in my family heritage. My grandfather was one of the first recording artists in Jamaica, performing gospel music in live performances around the island, and my uncle is one of the fathers of ska music. Growing up, music was woven into every family gathering - we sang constantly at my grandparents' home, with aunts and cousins, making it a natural part of who I am. I started in high school doing modeling and pageantry, where I had to showcase my talents and become well-rounded in current affairs and the cultural aspects of music. My mother being a teacher and my grandmother homeschooling us helped me become very artistic in writing poetry, which I would turn into songs. After completing college, I relocated to Kingston, the capital of Jamaica and the heart of music and entertainment. While training to become a flight attendant and specializing in ticketing, a classmate heard me sing and told me about auditions at Anchor Records. I went the next day, met a manager, and recorded my first song that same day. I began doing background vocals for artists like Glenn Ricks, Determined, Sizzla, Capleton, and was introduced to work with the legendary Gregory Isaacs, performing internationally in Brazil and Miami. In 1999, I auditioned for and joined Black Uhuru, touring Europe for four weeks on my first international tour with them. Gregory Isaacs, who I considered like a father, gave me crucial advice to stay away from drugs and stay focused. I wrote four songs that appeared on Black Uhuru's Grammy-nominated album in 2018. After relocating to the United States in 2013, I performed at the 'Loving the Silent Tears' nonprofit red carpet event in California, and Black Uhuru's leader told me I needed to go solo rather than hold back as a backing vocalist. As a solo artist, I was nominated for a Grammy Award for Independent Artists in 2025 representing reggae music, and in 2026 my song 'Huggin Buggin Gut' reached the top 100 chart for reggae music on iTunes, earning me a gold plaque. I have completed a 13-track album that is now receiving favorable airplay in the UK. One of my songs, 'I Was Born a Queen,' encourages women and girls to maintain who they are and not deplete themselves to fit in or suit others, reflecting my mission to use music to uplift people across all races and classes.