AQUANNETTE CHINNERY - Gospel Recording Artist

Gospel recording artist Aquannette Chinnery of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands is a multiple-award nominated, born-again Christian singer/songwriter whose CD titled "Hold Your Head Up High" is her highly anticipated sophomore release that features both Caribbean gospel (gospel reggae and soca/calypso gospel/gospelypso) and urban contemporary gospel. She has released music videos for the songs "Thank You God For My Mother," "And Can It Be," "I Am Saved (Smooth Groove Mix)," and "Spread the Gospel." The television program Rise and Shine on Tempo Networks, which plays throughout the Caribbean and is also available online, is playing "Thank You God For My Mother" and shall be adding all others soon.

This second CD is a follow up to her debut CD titled "Who Is Like Unto You?" that featured contemporary, traditional, and Caribbean gospel (gospel reggae and soca/calypso gospel). The CD "Who Is Like Unto You?" was produced by Loris Holland and Mel Holder. The CD "Who Is Like Unto You?" was nominated in 2003 for Top Gospel CD International and the song "Sweet" from her CD was nominated for Top International Gospel Song of the Year at the 3rd Annual Hopeton Lewis Caribbean Gospel Music Awards. Some of her fellow nominees included George Banton, Judy Mowatt, Richie Stephens, and the Grace Thrillers. In 2004, the song "Sweet" was nominated for Calypso of the Year for the Sunshine Awards along with fellow nominees Denyse Plummer (Trinidad & Tobago), David Rudder & Carl Jacobs (Trinidad & Tobago), Krosfyah (Barbados), and Faye Anne Lyons (Trinidad & Tobago). Aquannette is a nominee for the 2011 South Florida Gospel Music Awards in the Traditional Female category and voting will open online on August 25, 2011 on the South Florida Gospel Music Awards website.

As a solo artist, she continues to minister in song at events throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands, the U.S. mainland, and the Caribbean. She has appeared several times at the Bobby Jones International Gospel Industry Retreat and on the WORD network. She has shared the stage with artists such as Dorothy Norwood, RiZen, and Stephen Hurd. She has also ministered at events sharing the stage either as an opening act for or as a co-featured artist with many artists including Stitchie, Hopeton Lewis, Claudelle Clarke, Richie Stephens, Judy Mowatt, Joan Myers, Keith Childress, Kim Sledge of Sister Sledge, Promise of Barbados, Miriam Drakes, Nora Dean, Cindy Lewis of Jamaica, Steven Reeves, Delroy Souden, Courtney Fadlin, Jerry Lloyd, Marlon Anderson, Tiko & Gitta of Trinidad, the Central Bank of Barbados Choir, Mighty G Sound of South Africa (formerly known as Mighty Gospel Sound), Mary Lewis (of the Grace Thrillers), Jubilant Praise Ministers and Choir of Antigua, Pepper, Quintessence of Trinidad, Sean Daniel of Trinidad, Boys of Standard of St. Kitts, Dawn McDowell, Gernardo, TRW (The Real Word), and Demetrus. Similarly, she has also ministered at events sharing the stage either as an opening act for or as a co-featured artist with many regional and local artists, including Harrella Goodwin, Judy Turnbull, Bernard Smith, the Lansiquot Sisters, Deanna Wattley of the British Virgin Islands, Ouida Nesbitt of the British Virgin Islands, Jessy Barbel, JoJo & Friends, Judah First, Redeemed Brothers and Friends, the Rogers Sisters, La Verne Woodley, Full Body Ensemble, Keri Fraser, Neomie Toussaint-Williams, New Herrnhut Moravian Church's Gospel Choir, Yvette Powell, United Voices, New Decision of the British Virgin Islands, Shenneth Canegata,and Ronaqua Russell.

Aquannette is a member of Wesley Methodist Church where she serves as a class leader and member of the Pastoral Council and Circuit Pastoral Council. She is a writer member of ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers). Her songs are registered with ASCAP.

As a child, she worked at a summer job to buy a piano. She taught herself to play it and played for a couple of years, but now only uses a keyboard to work on melodies for her songs. She had many years of performing before and after that as a dancer. Several years ago, she joined Tidalwave Gospel Band as a lead and backup vocalist and continues to sing with the band in addition to her solo music ministry. She is also a member of her church's praise and worship team.

Aquannette is also an attorney and award winning fine artist (painter). She also has been an evening news and weather anchor, radio account executive, disc jockey, talk show host, model, dancer, assistant director of the public relations office for the Governor of the Virgin Islands, beauty pageant winner, and lab manager. At age 18, she was the youngest graduate of the then-College of the Virgin Islands (now named University of the Virgin Islands) from which she graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry. She has her M.S. in Biochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a J.D. degree with High Honors from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark. She is the mother of two children.

E-mail: mailto:bio@aquannette.com