How I Finally Got Sober

Gospel singer JRoss, who’s struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for years, tells us how he turned his life around.

- Qhama Dayile

HE’S elegant in a tailored suit and crisp white shirt, the picture of health and prosperity. His handshake is firm, his greeting is warm and he thanks God for another lovely day.

All in all, this guy is so wholesome and clean it’s difficult to imagine him having anything dark and damaged in his past – let alone a drug and alcohol problem that lasted for years and saw him burning through thousands of rands.

Gospel singer Jamela Vuma, who now goes by the name JRoss, is not ashamed of talking about his past. In a real heartto-heart, he tells DRUM how kicking his demons was neither quick nor easy and involved plenty of changes – including cutting ties with his “bad” friends and eventually giving up kwaito music.

He also talks about his musical career – including his time as the masked character Sgonondo – and how the love of his fiancée and family helped him on a spiritual journey that changed his life.

JAMELA (35) grew up surrounded by music.

His father, Tom Vuma, was a producer for veterans such as Ray Phiri, Blondie Makhene and Steve Kekana, so Jamela’s exposure to a muso’s life began at a young age.

He started taking piano lessons at age six and by nine he was the lead singer in a church choir in Umlazi, Durban. When he was a teenager, his mom arranged for him to be mentored by renowned producer Sello “Chicco” Twala. And by the time he was 16 he was working with Somizi Mhlongo on a project called Children of the Rainbow, playing the piano and singing lead vocals.

At 18 he was signed to Universal Music SA and produced his first album for ’90s kwaito group Cream, followed by an album for Bongo Maffin’s Speedy.

A year later he was producing songs for the likes of Lebo Mathosa, Jub Jub and Loyiso “Chippa” Mangena.