Episode this artist appeared in
Brief History
Born Kelly-Ann Minto to parents Ovril, an executive secretary and Lester Minto, a musician in St. Catherine Jamaica, Storm showed a remarkable love for music from a very tender age. Featured on many episodes of “Ring Ding”, a children’s television show, Storm never rejected an opportunity to sing. Her talent became more profound when she became a member of her church choir. She never ceased to amaze the congregation. Storm was considered to be the Jamaican version of Tracy Chapman by the members of her community, Marine Park, where she was also a crowd pleaser at their annual festivities.
Her father, known to everyone in his hometown of Ocho Rios as “Minto“, was the owner of the “Touch of Class Band” formerly the “Red Dirt Band”; He also served as an officer of the Jamaican Federation of Musicians and this allowed Storm the privilege to interact and become acquainted with the different styles and techniques of veteran artists who were former band mates and very good friends of her father. It was this affiliation that encouraged Storm’s unique style and ‘rootsy’ flavor. While visiting her father in St. Ann, Storm frequented President Brown’s studio, Muzic Avenue, with her cousin Ifari, a cultural reggae artist who was then a part of Brown’s team. She was persuaded by the engineer there, “Brave Heart”, and a close friend, “Professor Frisky”, into recording her first song entitled “Can We”. It was a new and exciting venture for Storm as she then discovered her love for writing and was elated by the words of encouragement she received from artists such as Frankie Paul, Courtney Melody, President Brown, and Mikey Spice, just to name a few.
Storm’s dream of becoming a star, however, was delayed as she had to make a very hard decision in January of 2001. She was accepted to a well-known university in Baltimore, Maryland and chose to migrate to the United States to further her studies as well as to be close to her mother, who was already living there, and other family members. Her love for music never allowed a day to go by without words, notes, and melodies captivating her thoughts. Storm’s friendly personality and outspoken character afforded her to meet and become friends with many in her new found hometown. She was introduced to a recording studio in Baltimore by Canadian reggae artist “Gucci Linxx” who encouraged her to keep doing music as he realized that she had a special knack for it and wrote songs so fluently and easily. This talent was what subsequently led to her being given the name “Storm” as it was thought that her lyrical ability and different sound blew the minds of those who listened.
She has shared a stage with an array of artists such as, Junior Reid, Turbulence, Buju Banton, Ken Boothe, Mavado, Baby Cham, Junior Kelly, Yami Bolo, Johnny Osbourne, Junior Cat, Junior Demus, Boom Dandimite, Noppa Toppa, General Pecos, Lady Saw, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Third World, Morgan Heritage, Frankie Paul, Sanchez, and many more.