Gospel saxophone artist Tony Smith has been featured on scores of US television shows, toured around the world and been recognised with prestigious awards.

Throughout it all he’s managed to stay humble by always keeping Christ at the centre of his ministry.

He’ll be here next Saturday to perform at Gospel Explosion, an interfaith concert to aid three women with health challenges.

“When someone asks me how are you able to go to Bermuda so often and be on those TV shows and know musicians like Ben Tankard, Kirk Whalum and Angella Christie, I say it’s my faith walk,” the 53-year-old said.

“By being humble and staying in His word these doors have all opened. I’ve had people ask me to hook them up with a gig, but the truth is I’m not the one who can make that happen.

“I’m just grateful that people see my focus and my personality and want to have me perform at an event.”

During his 30-year career, Mr Smith has received nominations from both the Urban Gospel Industry Awards and American Gospel Music Awards. He has released four solo albums and featured on several shows including Bobby Jones Gospel and Faith Now.

He understands that success can be fleeting, and tries to remain grateful for the opportunities that come his way.

“It could all end tomorrow and I would be okay with that,” he said. “God knows my heart and knows that I treat people the way I want to be treated. I minister to the homeless and down and out people as well as people who are doing very well. No matter what people look like or what car they drive I want them to be uplifted and encouraged.”

The New York native has had a longstanding relationship with the Island.

As a child, he would visit frequently with his parents; a decade ago he started coming here to perform.

“I had an opportunity present itself ten years ago when I left an AME convention with 3,000 people. There were bishops, elders and pastors from all over the world there and the late pastor Micah Chandler, of Heard Chapel AME, came up to me. He said, ‘What would it take to get you to come to Bermuda to do a concert?’ I didn’t think he was serious, but I said, ‘A plane ticket and a place to stay’..

“Then I got a phone call the next day to say that my plane ticket had been booked. That was my first time playing in Bermuda opposed to just vacationing there as I had with my parents since 1976.”

He became interested in music from an early age.

His aunt encouraged him to learn how to play an instrument after noticing how he’d bang on pots and pans in his grandmother’s kitchen.

At age 14 he started taking formal lessons in saxophone and went on to play for various school and neighbourhood bands in Queens.

Then one day while in church, he realised he should be playing to lift up the name of Jesus.

“My mom took me to Macedonia AME Church in Flushing, Queens and that day I was listening to the music; the choir was singing and organ was playing,” he said.

“A feeling came over me that I should give my gift back to the church and God, so I asked if I could play along to the morning service and with the encouragement of the pastor I did.”

The rest is history, as they say.

In addition to being an accomplished gospel saxophonist, Mr Smith also hosts a programme on Gospel Jazzations Radio WFDU 89.1FM in New Jersey.

He said it was a blessing to think of all God has done for him.

“It’s important to me to always remember that because I could have been doing other things,” he said. “I could have been running the streets or hanging out with my friends or going to parties. That’s not my nature anyway, but I feel God has given me this calling to give spiritual relief to others going through certain things.”

People frequently tell him how his songs have encouraged them through difficult periods, Mr Smith said.

“So if this is how I’m blessing people with my gift then I’m grateful because that’s how God is using me.”