Bermuda's own gospel radio personality, Mr. Kelly Zuill, was recently crowned as "Best Gospel Announcer of the Year'' at an international competition in the United States.

Mr. Zuill has become a familiar face at the International Gospel Announcers Award Conference since he first attended in 1990.

This year's venue was Memphis, Tennessee at the Airport Hilton and Mr. Zuill was one of many to attend the prestigious event.

"This was the first year they decided to choose the best announcer,'' Mr.

Zuill said. "And they chose me out of 12 other announcers.'' "We had to repeat our opening and closing lines of our programme,'' Mr. Zuill said. "We were also judged us on our voice presentation and dress.'' The contestants were judged by a panel consisting of record company producers, gospel singing personalities and a minister.

This is not the only international recognition Mr. Zuill has received. In 1994 the Queen herself presented Mr. Zuill with the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour at Government House.

"I was awarded for my many years of devoted service for promoting gospel music in Bermuda.'' Mr. Zuill said. "That occasion made me feel so good, I will never forget receiving the award from the Queen herself.'' Devoted is a word that only comes close to describing 52-year-old Mr. Zuill.

His average day begins at 4 a.m. when he gets up to be at ZBM's studio for 6 a.m.

"My show runs until 8 a.m., and then I'm off to work at Pearman Watlington,'' Mr. Zuill said. "I'm also involved with the church (in early days at Vernon Temple AME Church but since 1975, at St. Anne's Church), and I have a Gospel show on Power 95 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.'' "I love my work (radio announcing) or I would have left it in the dust a long time ago.'' Mr. Zuill began his radio announcing career during his last year at Sandys Secondary School when he appeared as a guest DJ on Saturday night at ZFB.

"I featured on Les Campell's show and he was very impressed with me,'' Mr.

Zuill said. "That evening, Mr. Montaque Shepard, the manager at the time, offered me a job right after my appearance.'' But Mr. Zuill declined the job and decided to study abroad to become a radio announcer. He attended the RCA Institute in New York and graduated in 1962 after the completion of his courses.

"On the night of my graduation, I received a call at my school from Mr.

Shepard wondering when I would be back on the Island.'' Mr. Zuill said.

"He offered me a job at VSB, and I took it this time, I was so excited!'' After returning to the Island, Mr. Zuill eventually started playing Gospel music for the radio, and has stuck with it ever since.

"I love gospel music, I grew up in the church and I was a Sunday School teacher,'' Mr. Zuill said. "I was surrounded by gospel. Gospel music is music with a message, music that is truly food for the soul. There is a message in every song that is sung. Gospel music should comfort or give inspiration to the listener, it should give you a feeling that someone else does care about you.

"There is bound to be a gospel selection that every person in every walk of life will be able to apply to themselves,'' Mr. Zuill said.

He has no plans of retiring from the business just yet. "I get to much enjoyment from playing the music.'' TOP GOSPEL GUY -- Internationally-recognised announcer Mr. Kelly Zuill.