Artiste name: Soldier – Bless
Birth Name: Bert Hanley
Birth Place and Date: Jessups Village, Nevis, W.I, August 19th, 1977.
Bert Hanley formely known as Blessings but now“Soldier – Bless,”was born on the ninetenth of August, 1977,in jessups village, Nevis. He grew up in a Christian home and gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of ten and loved music since he was a little boy. He shorly migrated to the sister island St. Kitts to continue his life.
In St.Kitts he gradually strayed away from God through the influence of friends, company, and the haunting memories of his youthful years in Nevis, being rejected and scorned by society. During his early years in St.Kittshe obtained a love for reggae/dancehall music with his mentors being Buju Banton,Chaka Demus and Pliers, and Shabba Ranks.
Soldier – Bless always had a love for God and a determination to serve Him no matter what obstacles came his way. His lifestye drastically changed in St.Kitts when he saw the crime rate was very high and many young people, particulaly men were loosing their lives rapidly. He was deeply saddened within his heart and questioned within himselfwhere each of them would spend eternity when they died .
Soldier – Bless then began to seperate himself from all his distractions and encouraged himself in the Lord to live completely for Him because he believed that every youth has a purpose, and he was willing to find his purpose and help other youths find their’s.The passion to reachyouths intensified, and Soldier – Bless realized a radical change had to be made and with God’s guidance seeked to make that change.
In the year 1998, he became a member of Youth Impact Ministries, and in 2005 at the annual Jubilee Celebrations, in a reggae contest of seven participants, emerged as the winner with the song, “Be – Free.” He recorded this debut single album at “Tehilla Studio” in Trinidad. In 2002. He hosted the first ever “REGGAE SPLASH DOWN” at The Living Word Christian Center, Freeman’s Village, Basseterre, St.Kitts.
He has since been the visionary and President of this event which takes place every summer with the exceptions of 2004 and 2007. He also features on the debut compilation album, “FREEDOM” byR.S.K.B. (Radical Saints doing the King’s Business), which was launched in 2008 at the fifth Annual Reggae Splash Down. He is the President of this group of young radical Christian men with a vision to restore lives and win souls through our genre of music.
Soldier – Bless also launches his pre album “NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER,” at Zethur “Zeeman” Henry Birthday Bash, November 21st, 2014. Zeeman is the visionary for“Gospel Artiste Production,” and it”s debut album, “SALVATION” was launched in 2010 at the eight Annual Reggae Splash Down. R.S.K.B. and Gospel Artiste Production has been working closely to see change in the youths of our Generation. Soldier – Bless is also known as”Blessings,” which was a name that was given to him by he saying…”Blessings!!” as a way of greeting people, which actually stuck on him.
“Soldier – Bless” is a name that dropped in his spirit after reflecting on his life and praying and realizing that what he had been through he must had been a true soldier indeed, and at the same time he’s blessed. He placed both words together, and he became, ‘SOLDIER – BLESS.”
As Soldier – Bless he sees himself as a lion who is bold, strong and determined and therefore roars to remind himself of who he is. His favourite quote is “Heart of the Lion – Tough like Irion,” and on stage he encourages his fellow Christians by saying, “Leh me hear de Lion roar!!” He will launch his official album, “HEART OF THE LION,” in mid 2015.
With the heart of the Lion, Soldier – Bless endeavours to be steadfast and unmovable in his mission to restore broken lives and to win souls through the gift and talent God has given him to do so; through Gospel Reggae Dancehall.
