susan best richardson Christian Minister & Gospel Singer
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f you ask Susan Best Richardson if she still sings, she’ll say, “Am I still breathing?” Born in Grenada but raised in Tortola, BVI, Susan has vivid memories of her first time singing in her father’s church at age seven: “I remember my mom helping me with the words, and that was it – I’ve been singing ever since.” As part of her father’s band, ’Regenerated Singers’, she did her first recording at 16 with her father and members of her family. Susan began studies that the University of the Virgin Islands when the family moved to St. Thomas a few years later. There, she met her future husband, Curtis Richardson. Because of him, she and a group of young male Anguillian singers got together in the ’90s to form ’Unique Touch’, which recorded two albums to rave reviews before parting ways. Shortly afterwards, Susan and Curtis moved to Anguilla. She taught at the high school while continuing as a solo artist, but the toll teaching took on her voice forced her to choose one of the two paths. “It was because of the constant talking,” she says. “Two years after I stopped teaching, my voice came back, and it was beautiful. [But] I loved teaching them – I think I’m a kid at heart. I don’t ever want to grow up.” After a five-year hiatus, Susan self-produced ’I Trust You With My Life’ in 2010. Then, she found a career path that harmonized with her singing. Now an ordained Minister, she complements Susan Best Ministries with music, releasing her eighth album, ’A Voice’, in 2013. “I couldn’t just sit down with this gift that God gave me. I don’t think that’s where He wants me,” she says.
“I want to leave a good name, because a good name is better than any amount of money.” —Susan Best Richardson What inspires your ministry?
My life. I never sing a song because it has a nice tune. Every batch of work that I do comes out of a certain season of my life, and with those seasons comes growth. The approach I take is that it has to be authentic. Any hidden talents?
I’ve always liked fashion. I was a diva before divas were created [laughs]. My mother was a seamstress, so I watched her sew. When I came here, I made my own outfits. I always liked creating stuff – taking something that looked like what I wanted and making it mine. How do you want to be remembered?
I want people to know that Susan Best stood for integrity and righteousness – somebody you could look up to and say ’I want to be like her.’ I want to leave a good name, because a good name is better than any amount of money.
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