In fact, few Gospel personalities have earned as rich an experience in music and ministry in their lifetime as Karlene.  From her early exposure to passionate island ministry in Jamaica, to her eventual Praise Team member role in a Southern Christian church, Karlene’s wide and wonderful experiences have ultimately prepared her for international discipleship.  

BLACKGOSPEL.COM spoke with this very strong and savvy woman who now calls Atlanta her home and came to the conclusion that her ministry sincerely moving in mysterious ways.  It’s an unbelievable testimony worth sharing this week in our weekly spotlight feature of an emerging Independent artist on her way to another level.  

Christopher Heron:  Let’s start by journeying back to the islands.  Jamaica.  Share with us how your talent, desire and fervor to be a minister of music and recording artist all started back in the tropics?

Karlene Bartolo: Well, I started singing from the age of five. At that early age, I was singing at my local church and at other events sponsored by my church. And what commonly happened is that every time I would sing, a lot of people would come up to me after I would minister and they would share with me what happened to them every time I sang. Of course, at that age I still didn’t fully understand what they were talking about.  I just knew that I loved to sing and when I got on stage it brought me the greatest joy in the world.  But still, even in my teenage years, I still did not fully understanding what was happening when I got on stage to sing.  

It wasn’t until my early twenties that God started revealing to me that I had a gifting from Him, besides just being able to sing a song.  It was to be a ministry that when sung, people’s hearts would be moved and touched; people would receive something from God that of coarse I can not explain myself, because it is the work of the Holy Spirit and not of me. And with that knowledge, I started my ministry.  I continued to sing and I’ve been doing so ever since and I’ve seen God move in miraculous ways through this gift that he’s given me.

CH:  When were you first introduced to the legendary Jamaican Gospel group - The Grace Thrillers?  And exactly how big is there ministry, particularly back in those early days of your ministry?

KB: I was introduced to Jamaica’s well-known Grace Thrillers in the mid-eighties, by a friend that’s a member of the church in Kingston.  He was the music director at the time and had been working with the Grace Thrillers for several years.  Having heard me sing, he wanted to audition me for the group.  At that time, I really didn’t know a lot about the Grace Thrillers, to be honest with you, even though they were, for many years, the primary Gospel group in Jamaica and the Caribbean. They auditioned me and I joined in ’85.  That was a great experience for me because that’s when I believe the whole experience of being on stage, performing and understanding my gift was nurtured.  I was working with people who had been ministering for a longer period of time and who had so much more experience being on stage and performing before diverse audiences.  So, in terms of just developing as a performer and minister, that was just a great experience for me. 

CH: How big and blessed was there ministry back in the 80’s and into the 90’s?

KB: The Grace Thrillers continued to grow in popularity, professionalism and in artistry, during those years I was with the group and even in later years; they continued to flourish as one of the more prominent Gospel groups from the West Indies.

CH:  And now, you’re a resident of Atlanta.  It’s a different culture and country but a place that loves and embraces Gospel music.  You’ve recently launched your own independent solo album. How different is this experience for you as an artist, in terms of being a solo artist and in terms of presenting something that’s tailored for an American market?

KB: Well, after I left the Grace Thrillers, I did proceed to work on solo projects.  Those projects were primarily geared to the West Indian market.  I eventually migrated to Canada and continued to focus on the West Indian community.  But after leaving Canada for the United States, my exposure to diverse musical genres made my appreciation for different styles so much bigger and better. For one, I was worshiping in a predominantly White church and most of the music that we did there was Contemporary Christian style.  Of course, they’re not very familiar with any West Indian style of music.  I worked on the music team, which challenged my flexibility to move beyond my comfort zone and sing diverse music styles.  That was just one of the best things that happened to me.  

I remember working with the worship Director from my church who was a vocal coach.  She was one of the main individual’s behind the success and growth of Jaci Velasquez.  She worked with her growing up, helping her with her vocals as well.  She said, “Karlene, I need this part of the song to be breathy and I need this part to be airy.”  And I’m like, “What’s that!?!”  It took me a while to develop that ability to sing on the more airy side, which is more common in Contemporary Christian music, as opposed to Black Gospel or even in music from Jamaica and the West Indies. It helped me to do so much more with my voice. And so, developing my vocals that way just kind of changed my whole vocal style.

CH: Wow! Well you’ve certainly matured as an artist both through your exposure and experiences.  So, who have been a few Gospel artists that have influenced, inspired and mentored you? And where do you see your brand of music ministry evolving to, in terms of who will it cater to?

KB:  Over the years, one of my mentors has certainly been Shirley Ceasar.  A lot of the songs that I’ve done in the past were influenced by her style.  Tramaine Hawkins has also been an example for me in terms of her vocal abilities. Over time, I find that what’s happened to me is that God has brought me to a place where songs deeply mean so much to me.  And what I feel I have to impart are those songs that are really geared towards praise and adoration to Him, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, those songs that would remind my audience that at the end of the day, what He requires is that praise and glory be given to Him.  That’s really what matters. 

We can all sit and mope within our own little situation and circumstances and feel sorry for ourselves…I don’t want to downplay that we have people who suffer under different circumstances…but all that matters… and there’s a song that the Commissioned did years ago that says. “Only what you do for Christ will last…And the future quickly becomes the past.”  Those words have stayed with me for decades.  It’s got me to that place where I said, “God, it’s all about You; it’s not about me.”  “Yes, I have different things that I want to put before You because of daily trials that bring hurt and pain.  But Lord, at the end of the day, when I surrender and give it all to You and when I recognize You for who You are and give You that praise and adoration, I know that you’re going to take care of all the little things, little things that we claim to be big things.” In His eyes, they are just so minute. And so for that reason, I can foresee that future projects will probably be along the same line, songs that will cater to anybody, no matter what race, age, style of music you may prefer, because the lyrics.

I’m focusing on writing special lyrics that let you know that our God deserves praise.  The little baby needs to know, the teenager needs to know. I know the rhythm and style of music plays a important role in the initial attention a song receives, especially with teenagers. As soon as they hear the rhythm, they gravitate to it.  I won’t downplay that.  But at the end of the day, I believe that the style of music that God wants me to do is music that when you listen to it, no matter where you are, no matter what age you are, those songs will bring you to that place where you can recognize God for who He is and give Him the praise.  It’s music that will have you lean on Him and know that if He is supreme, then he’s able to take you out of any situation and bring you to that place where you can truly know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you have a Redeemer who lives.

For more information on Karlene Bartolo, visit her official website at www.karlenebartolo.com.  To book or contact Karlene Bartolo, send your emails to karlenebartolo@comcast.net.   Click here to read the BLACKGOSPEL.COM album review – Father Of Light – featuring Karlene Bartolo.