Walking into destiny - Tessanne's family believes she was born to sing

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

One might remember watching vocal competition The Voice a few weeks ago and hearing Tessanne Chin's father, Richard Chin, shout "show it to dem baby" as he watched her perform in front of the show's celebrity coaches.

But he is just one of many family members rallying behind the 28-year-old singer.

"Words cannot express how it was being there," said Chin, who accompanied Tessanne to the blind auditions and battle round.

"I am very pleased with how Tessanne is doing. I think she is ready, she is so ready for this. You know like when Bolt is peaking, I think she is peaking at the right time. She is so ready that she will do good."

He also believes his daughter has a very good chance in the competition, especially with the support of Jamaica.

"Jamaica has the greatest people you can find. I am proud of being here and I am happy for Jamaica to be behind her. I never expected what I am seeing in Jamaica," he told The Sunday Gleaner while at the send-off party Digicel hosted for Tessanne on Thursday.

Tessanne's husband, Michael Anthony Cuffe Jr, said he was extremely proud of how his wife had been representing Jamaica on the world stage thus far.

"To see her finally get this, to see her represent Jamaica, that is indescribable," he said.

"She is amazing. We always knew that she was this great. But seeing it now come to fruition is blowing everybody away."

He continued, "I think Tessy has the chance to go all the way to the top and win. Hands down, no exaggeration, no bias, she is the greatest vocalist that has ever come out of Jamaica and probably the world has ever seen. I have never heard Tessy do a bad note. She is amazing and I don't have any doubts in my mind that she will make it to the top."

Big dreamer

Also sharing in the excitement was Tessanne's sister, Tami Chynn, who is also a singer. She said she is extremely happy that her sister is getting the chance to live out her dream because she has always been a big dreamer.

"It may not have happened the way that everybody thought it would, but I definitely think it is always the best way and I can't be anything but supportive," she said.

And regardless of the outcome, Tami said her sister is already a winner.

"I think her chances are very good and I tell her all the time that even if you don't win, you have already won in so many ways. And I know that sounds cliché and stupid to some people, but so much could have come out of it already. I think even for our country, people have found a new reason to feel proud and feel hopeful and feel good and Tessy has given everybody that gift."

Stayed up til 3

A trip to Jamaica for her daughter's send-off party was not too much, as Christine Weston, Tessanne's mother, flew in from England to surprise her. She explained that she stayed up until 3 a.m. to watch Tessanne perform and could do nothing but cry when she saw her singing.

"This is what she has always wanted, to take another step forward and I think this is a great platform," she said.

She said her daughter's chances of winning are "as good as anybody else's. Win or lose, Tessy win already."

Tessanne's entertainer brother-in-law, Wayne Marshall, also spoke highly of her and what she has already done in the competition.

"Tessy is born to do this and I think she is just walking into destiny right now. I think her chances are very good, especially if we keep the support from Jamaica as much we have been doing," Marshall told The Sunday Gleaner.

"If people are looking at the competition pound for pound, I think they can see that Tessy is easily top three, and in my book number one, the best singer in that competition."