My name is D'Arthana Lorenzo Fitz Burrell and I was born on the 17 th of November 1983. I grew up on Molynes Road in Kingston Jamaica in a strong, healthy Christian environment. An environment so strong that I never came into direct contact with reggae/dancehall music until about the age of 12 when I attended a friends birthday party. I was first baptized at the age of 8 (but strayed from the "path" in my early teens) but was singing from as early as 6 years old. In high school I excelled in the English language and it began to manifest in the form of poetry. After writing for some time, my skills developed and matured to the point where a friend told me that these poems could very easily become songs. This was the first time that I ever considered song-writing. Armed with an arsenal of lyrics and songs the only thing that was missing was a name. As a backslidden christian who still lived under the "fear of the lord" my thoughts were that no matter how far I got in the music industry or how successful I was, God still sees me as an "ordinary" person and I should always try to remain humble. Hence the name Ordinary.
My secular music career was short-lived as I migrated to Florida at age 19 in January 2003 and accepted Christ as my lord and saviour 7 months after. The last thing on my mind was Gospel Reggae, so I was upset with the lord because he had given me a talent that I had grown to love but now, would never be able to use. If I only knew what God had in store. My first gospel lyrics were written because I didn t want to be confined to the regular slow paced gospel songs and I wanted to have about 5 songs that were of an upbeat tempo. However, when I started writing these songs I realized that there was a steady and continuous influx of lyrics and I knew what to do with them. So here I am about 2 years later, taking my christianity serious, ministering on and off stage and walking through the many doors that the lord is opening for me. I know and strongly believe that with my lifes experience of premature independence, constant relocations, good and bad relationships, near miss life and death situations and other drama, that I have a testimony to tell and lessons to teach.
The main focus of my ministry is the younger generation, and who better to tell young people that they can abstain from sin and walk after the spirit than another 21 year old. I believe that God is using me to righteously and positively persuade the youth. I also believe that the lord is going to do a mighty work in me and this is just the beginning so stay tuned.
