Visually-impaired dancehall artiste Winston ‘Courage’ Callum believes that fear is the ultimate “dream killer,” and he refuses to let it stand in the way of his ambitions.
“Risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. I will not allow fear of failure to stop me from doing anything in this world, even though I may be blind,” said Callum, whose real name is Winston Callum.
Despite his visual impairment, Courage works as an assistive technology instructor, but he has recently decided to pursue music professionally. He writes his own lyrics, drawing inspiration from his life experiences.
“My music name ‘Courage’ came about as a result of the various things that I am capable of doing and the fact that I love to take on new challenges,” he explained.
Courage is currently promoting his latest single, Sweet Jamaica, a collaboration with his brother, Varel Anthony. He recently filmed a music video in Jamaica highlighting tourist spots mentioned in the song.
“People have been asking for the video because I entered the song in the annual festival song contest but it didn’t make the top ten,” he said.
Hailing from the Kensington district in St. Ann, home to legendary musicians such as Bob Marley, Courage showed an interest in music from a young age. While gaining recognition as a deejay in his community, he attended the Salvation Army School for the Blind in Kingston and completed a two-year information technology course at the Abilities Foundation.
Courage’s brother, respected producer Varel Anthony, also known as Fada Specialist, encouraged him to pursue music professionally in 2021.
“I know that I have what it takes to make it because my style, the quality of my lyrics and the message of my music always gets a great response from friends, family and close acquaintances,” he shared.
Courage has recorded songs including the risqué Bedroom Bully, the inspirational uptempo track How Wi Dweet, and arguably his most popular song, Nuh Like Me. He is signed to Specialist Sound Production Inc and has performed at venues in East Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, as well as Flatbush, New York.
