Cecil Jay Roberts

Cecil Jay Roberts (born Cecil Anang, 2 September) is a singer, songwriter and producer.
Early Life
Roberts was born Cecil Anang in Ghana during the late 1970s. His parents were George Anang, Second Secretary to Obed Asamoah 1997 , and his wife Dinah Anang. Roberts is the last of five children. His parents moved to the United Kingdom in 1979 where he attended Donnington Primary School in Brent. They later moved back to Ghana where Roberts' father died, leaving the then sixteen year old boy to fend for himself and his mother. On the family's return to Ghana, Roberts was enrolled at the Ridge Church School where he participated in a national event organised by Unicef to mark the tenth anniversary of the Ghana National Commission. During his speech, a young Roberts addressed thousands on culture, health and education. This earned him the front page splash of the 1989 September issue of a national newspaper - the Daily Graphic. Roberts early brush with fame did not end there; later that year, Roberts was invited to the Osu Castle where he acted as the former president of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings.
In 1990, Roberts attended the Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School after being one of the first students to gain entry to a state secondary school via the newly introduced SSCE ,Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. He recalls when he was called into the headmaster's office to be congratulated for receiving the highest grade nationally, in English Language for that year, (West African Examinations Council, 1993). After three years in senior secondary school Roberts applied to the University of Ghana where he studied Social Sciences. However, during the period between 1994 and 1999 the university experienced a series of strikes over student fees, and it was at this time that Roberts was beginning to receive national attention with his group The Heritage. Following the numerous strikes during his final year of University a disgruntled Roberts left the university to return to the United Kingdom. The rise of the charismatic movement in Ghana welcomed the new sound which was a blend of traditional and Urban contemporary gospel Music. In 1999 after a series of successful television appearances on the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and including numerous nationwide tours (National Theatre) Roberts departed from the group to start a solo career. The band recorded three albums with popular songs such as: 'It Is Well'" and 'Shidaa & Eteshi'. However, despite numerous sell-out tours and venues, distribution and profit from album sales were greatly affected due to the country's laxed copyright and infringement laws at the time. In April 2010, Christian Today published an article under the title: 'A Star is born!'.<ref name="star" /> In the article, Roberts talks about his time with The Heritage and the then recorded album, 'From There to Here'.<ref name="star" />
Gospel of Grace (Good News)
Roberts message is influenced by the Gospel of grace. He joined the grace revolution alongside preachers such as Joseph Prince, Billy Graham and Joel Osteen.<ref name="MyLife" />

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