A cool voice rises from hard times

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The cool voice on the radio belies the truckload of determination it took announcer Jody-Ann Gray to work her way into the business.

At 26 years old, Gray's life could easily be the model for a local script. Speaking candidly to The Sunday Gleaner recently, the Kool FM announcer, motivational speaker and Supreme Ventures hostess discussed overcoming hardships, which included an attempted suicide.

Despite those challenges, Gray, a graduate from the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) at the University of the West Indies, Mona, has found her calling on air entertaining her listeners.

Describing herself as spontaneous, fun and outgoing, Gray has learnt from early that hard work really is the key to success.

"A lot of people may not know this but I don't know my mother or where she is. She left me with my grandmother when I was seven months old and I've only had brief interactions with her since then and I met my father when I was 10 years old," she said.

Having been in the care of her grandmother since she was a baby, Gray was soon moved to a boarding home in Mountain View when her grandmother could no longer afford to care for her.

During her years in Mountain View, the youngster tried her best at school but admitted to not having passed Common Entrance, the exam which was used at the time to place students in high schools.

"When I was 10, I tried to commit suicide by fire," Gray said candidly.

"It was my final attempt at Common Entrance and I had failed and I didn't know my mother well and she called and was on my case verbally abusing me. After that I got a call from my father and he was complaining that I didn't pass as well. What was worse was the fact that I had a sibling of the same age who had passed for Meadowbrook," explained Gray.

"So, the pressure was on. I just lit myself on fire and, while I survived, I have the scars to show for it," she said.

"I regret it at the end of the day but it was a lesson."

Gray didn't give up. With the assistance of her father, she attended Constant Spring Junior High School where she became head girl. From there, Gray went on to Merl Grove High School, where once again, she became the head girl.

It was during her time at Merl Grove that Gray's interest in the world of media was sparked.

"It was during a Fame School Rules I was helping to lead their broadcast for the day with Paula-Ann Porter-Jones and she told me I should try out for CARIMAC and that I had a good voice."

Love for media

While wanting to do law, fate, Gray said, led her into CARIMAC and then on to the airwaves.

While at CARIMAC she began to host lottery draws with Supreme Ventures. From there she moved to Hot 102 where Ragashanti first put her on radio, followed by Richie B for a show called 'The Hot Wire'.

After Hot 102 it was on to Zip FM for 'Zip Info' for nine months and then she became the host of Fiwi Choice Charts for a year.

Kool FM is currently where Gray is making her roots as she said, "Mi love it. I love media. For me, it's not about the money. I get joy from the people who call and sey 'Jody yuh mek my day'."

Life has been looking good for Gray, not just professionally but on the personal front as well. She is now developing a healthy relationship with her father.

Gray became teary eyed when she spoke of her grandmother who she said is an inspiration. Gray also looks to her friends for support and calls them the 'backbone' in her life. "For the future now I find I want to do some acting. I love Patrick Brown plays so if he's having anything soon I want to audition. I also sing very well, and I write my own songs, so the sky's the limit where that's concerned. I never limit my options and it's important that others don't limit themselves as well."