She sings her faith
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Chinnery's Gospel of song
Maura Curley
She's been a television and radio talent, public relations officer for a former Virgin Islands governor, dancer, high fashion model, beauty pageant winner and biochemist. Aquanette Chinnery is also an award winning painter, singer, songwriter and attorney who practices law in St.Thomas. But the role she cherishes the most is born again Christian and Gospel performer.
Chinnery' was among celebrated nominees at the annual Hopeton Lewis Caribbean Gospel Music Awards. And her CD titled Who Is Like Unto You? was her first solo singing debut CD. She was amazed to have it nominated for Top International Gospel CD. One of the CD's songs was also nominated for Top International Gospel Song of the Year. _Chinnery notes that the other nominees in these categories were some seasoned Gospel singers
Songs on Chinnery's CD, which features contemporary, traditional, and Caribbean gospel that fuses reggae, soca and calypso influences, were co-written by Chinnery and well known producer Loris Holland, who co- produced Deniece William's Grammy Award winning Gospel CD, and worked on projects for many well known artists, including Celine Dion and Whitney Houston.
Chinnery also collaborated with Mel Holder, a saxophonist/ producer, recording at Holland and Holder's Toy Factory studio in Queens, New York.
Chinnery has always been more than an over achiever. Growing up in St. Thomas, she skipped high school, and entered what was then called the College of the Virgin Islands when she was 14. She says she was still in pigtails and bobby socks, noting at the time there was no option for early admission, so she took courses until the college allowed her to work toward the degree she wanted.
At 18 she became the youngest graduate of CVI with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. She then went on to earn masters in biochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a J.D. degree with high honors from Rutgers University School of Law.
Chinnery, who also dances and paints, began singing in her college chorus. She says she's always loved music and got a job at a childcare center when she was 12 to earn money to buy a piano, which she taught herself to play. A decade ag, she joined Tidalwave Gospel Band as a lead and backup vocalist.
Chinnery, the mother of two, says her Gospel ministry and the CD is the outgrowth of her many life experiences. She says she had no trauma that prompted her to be Born Again, but rather it was her many blessings, which have inspired her.
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