THE SINGER . SONGWRITER
“Making music is like food to my soul. It make me feel good, it’s powerful, it heals…I hope people feel inspired when they experience my music too.” – Cherine Anderson
Cherine Anderson is one of Jamaica’s leading young female singer/songwriters, actress and performers. Her genre defying grooves coupled with her powerful voice and thought provoking lyrics has brought her in front of well over 1,000,000 live audience fans, in places such as Jamaica, Europe, Canada, Australia and the USA.
She is the first Jamaican female artist to hit the Billboard Rock Charts featured on the song “Say Hey, I Love You” with Michael Franti & Spearhead. The song simultaneously peaked six Billboard charts and was placed on the soundtrack of numerous films and TV commercials including the EA 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Music Soundtrack, as well as the finale for The Oprah Whinphrey Show.
The east Kingston bred native is a consistent positive representative of Jamaica; from penning and directing chart topping videos for her inspirational songs such as “Eagles & Doves”, “How We Living”, “Kingston State of Mind” and “Shine On Jamaica”, to a stand out performance at the Inaugural Green Ball and Peace Ball during Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration, high energy performance at the World Games Special Olympics to reaching the Billboard charts. Cherine has made numerous appearances on television programs in Jamaica, Norway, France, Australia and the United States including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and twice appeared on the award winning local show Profile with Ian Boyne.
She has earned a reputation for her commanding and high energy live performances which helped to place her on arena tours and renown festivals worldwide as both an opening and support act for alternative bands like Michael Franti & Spearhead, International rock stars John Mayer and Counting Crows to name a few. She has also toured with, and is endorsed by legendary drummer Sly Dunbar (Sly & Robbie) who hails her as “the real deal. A truly strong vocalist on hardcore riddims with the ability and potential to surpass reggae audiences to reach the masses.”
Determined to keep following her light, Cherine continues to evolve as a woman, entrepreneur and an entertainer, ever poised for new heights. Cherine is in the final stages of completing her first full length album with legendary producers Sly & Robbie, Dean Fraser and David Norland in collaboration with 20 Six Music Group. Not one for hype and extravagance, she has surrounded herself with a solid team who has guided her over the last few years and are ready to help her showcase her music to rest of the world. Cherine says, “Making music is like food to my soul. It make me feel good, it’ powerful, it inspires, it heals…I hope people feel inspired when they experience my music too.”
ACTRESS
“I’ve been very fortunate to play very different roles both in film and theatre. It is always important that people can relate to the experience of each character.” – Cherine Anderson
Cherine Anderson is an award winning Jamaican actress known for roles in screen projects such as Dancehall Queen and One Love.
Born and raised in East Kingston Jamaica, singer and actress Cherine Anderson started performing during her school years. It was while attending Excelsior Primary that she was introduced to music and theatre by Mrs. Ann Grant and Mrs. Veronica Smith where she represented her school nationally at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission competition in both drama and music winning several medals in gold, silver and bronze.
At the age of 11, Anderson was accepted as a member of The Ashe Ensemble, one of the Caribbean’s leading musical theatre company. During her tenure with Ashe, the young actress successfully juggled theatrical training and full time studies at the Wolmer’s High School for girls. She also travelled internationally with theatrical productions such as Hush, Nuff Respect for Nature,Vibes in a world of Sexuality and Solid among others.
Through the support of Ashe’s director, the late Joseph Robinson, Cherine auditioned for Dancehall Queen. It was then, as a 9th grade student that she made her film debut in Dancehall Queen, co-starring as Tanya, a sexually molested teen.
Although Dancehall Queen broke records locally, Cherine decided to pause on her theatrical involvements to focus on her studies. Through the guidance of Dr. Dennis Minott/A.Q.U.E.S.T. she was awarded a scholarship to attend the John Hopkins University to attend a summer program. Anderson was accepted to ten (10) American Universities and attended Middlebury College where she studied Film and Japanese.
She returned to the screen co-starring with Idris Elba and Kymani Marley (Son of Bob Marley) in One Love. She was awarded Best actress in a Feature for this film at the MTV2/ Urban World Film Festival. In 2009,she also starred in the MTV Tempo’s TV series, Choices
For the past three years Anderson has spent time utilizing her studies and working behind the camera, directing chart topping videos such as Kingston State of Mind, Shine on Jamaica, How We Living and most recently Haffi Come Back. She is currently the Jamaican Film Festival Ambassador.
PHILANTHROPHY
“I believe we all have a collective responsibility to the future and my wish is that each person will do all we can to provide the best education and support for youths” – Cherine Anderson
Coupled with the success of dominating both dancehall and reggae charts; Cherine Anderson remains an advocate for education and sustainable mentorship programs for inner-city youths in her country. A product of the volatile inner-city community of Rockfort, in East Kingston Jamaica, she co-founded the Reach One Child “ROC” Foundation with Patrick Lindsay, while attending the prestigious Middlebury College (USA).
The ROC Foundation remains committed to providing mentorship and motivational programs as well as need based scholarships to youths in Jamaica. Under her presidency the foundation has expanded to over 95 active volunteers, including school tour mentors and executes programs that allow Jamaican Youths to be extraordinary and impact lives. Currently The ROC Foundation has five (5) Flagship programs which includes:
- ROC School Tour – An annual motivational School Tour
- ROC Club International – A student-led service organization
- E.S.S. ROC Youth Empowerment Workshops and Seminars
- The ROC Scholarship Program – offered to grade 6 student heading to secondary school
- ROC Kids Fest – An annual music and action festival with 100% proceeds going to student scholarships
In April 2015 she launched Groove Campus an initiative that connects reggae musicians and corporate responsibility networks with student – led outreach projects. The success of the Groove Campus initiative game birth to a progressive youth talk and music weekly radio show called “The Cherine Anderson Groove Campus Show”
“The Cherine Anderson Groove Campus Show” speaks volumes of her commitment to providing a platform for Jamaica’s youths to voice their concerns and it connects CEOs and celebrities with student-outreach projects, and introduces the nation to the next generation of talent.
Cherine has also served as campaign ambassador for the Yoplait & Jamaica Cancer Society’s “Save Lids to Save Lives” Breast Cancer Campaign since 2010, raising over $3.5 million JMD to benefit breast cancer victims and cancer awarenes. She was also aligned with the United Nations-backed “Way Out Project,” an initiative to end violence and endorse gender equality, which is run jointly by the UN and the Bureau of Women’s Affairs in her country.