When images of the havoc hurricane Ivan unleashed on Grenada reached the outside world, many people were moved to tears. Some, in and out of Grenada, were so traumatized that they were paralyzed into silence and inaction in the face of the daunting task ahead.

Brooklyn-based reggae/world beat artist Denison George had a totally different attitude. Before the storm settled he was penning a fight-back hit that was decidedly as therapeutic as it was heartfelt. And while the storm was still pummeling the Western Caribbean, he was in Sidney Mills' Living Room Studio in Brooklyn, New York recording the now combative chart-topping track he has selflessly contributed to the recovery, Grenada Will Rise Again (Vie Records). Now adopted by Grenadians as the unofficial anthem of the recovery effort, Grenada Will Rise Again is rapidly becoming a staple on New York and Caribbean radio. "Your children in foreign feel your pain/working together to build again," the song re-assures Ivan's thousands of physically and psychological scarred victims.

Ivan, a rare category 5 hurricane and one of the worst hurricanes to strike the Caribbean region in decades, strangled the island for more than 12 hours on September 7, killing 39 Grenadians and leaving the majority of islanders homeless and disorientated. Agriculture, the backbone of the country's economy, has been temporary destroyed, including the export crops of nutmeg and mace, which is featured proudly on Grenada's flag. Before Ivan, Grenada was the world's second largest producer of nutmeg and mace after Indonesia. Preliminary estimates put overall property damage on the 133 square mile nation at billions of dollars. The country's GDP amounts to merely $440 million.

Distributed by VP Records, all proceeds from the Grenada Will Rise Again album will go directly to benefit Grenadian victims of Hurricane Ivan. "We are particularly targeting educational institutions affected by Ivan. Virtually all the schools were partly or completely damaged. But we want to make it clear that this album is not just being marketed to the Grenadian community but to everyone who feel Grenada's pain... And although Grenada Will Rise Again focuses on Grenada, we are concerned about all victims of disaster in the Caribbean, including our sisters and brothers in Haiti and Jamaica," says Godfrey Fugerson, President of Vie Records.

Co-produced by internationally renowned reggae and R&B producer Sydney Mills, best known for his work with groups like Steel Pulse and The Fugees, Grenada Will Rise Again is an upbeat, evocative tribute to the resilience and determination of Grenadians in the face of environmental and political adversity. "We've been through wars and revolution/rise Grenada rise", the lyrics encourage.

Eight dynamic songs accompany the title track, including Forgiveness, People's Power, Soul Reformation, No Sell Out, as well as Grenada Irenada, a patriotic lovesong that reflects an idyllic still-life portrait of a pre-Ivan paradise of boundless culinary delights and physical beauty.

Ironically, the storm left Grenada with a food shortage and its once picturesque landscape is littered with dilapidated houses and flattened trees. "We need to stand strong in these difficult times. The common thread on the album is standing up and conquering demons, be it nature or negative human forces", says George.

Grenada Will Rise Again will also appear on Denison George's new, soon to be released album Crossing. Crossing explores a variety of issues, from inner conflicts to political and social issues in Grenada, Haiti and Africa. Denison George recently toured Haiti where he made a huge impression.

"We were in the studio doing the final mixing for our upcoming album with Sidney Mills and one of the founders of Haiti's Boukman Esperiance when Ivan struck Grenada," says Martin Felix, Vice President of Vie Records and George's manager. "We decided then that nothing was more important than the recovery effort. We halted working on our album to concentrate on it full-time."

It turns out that community co-operation and giving back to the community is steeped in Grenadian culture. This tradition is derived from enslaved Africans in Grenada and is expressed as solidarity with each other against the adversity of slavery and overcoming its legacy. In Grenadian parlance 'maroon' is voluntary community self-help in building or repairing houses. This spirit has also given rise to traditional community banking (Susu).

"As word of this project gets around we have been bombarded with calls to our offices with people wanting to get CDs and to help raise funds through the product. One reason is because the song is a great composition and the other aspect is the spirit of giving back to the community for a good cause," says Richie Paul who heads Vie Records' Promotion.

George, who has always used his music to combat injustice, has released three other albums, including 12 O'clock, Sinful Citay and Shake Up Yo Natty Tonight. He later took a brief respite from the music industry to pursue a law degree at Brooklyn College.

Grenada Will Rise Again is now available at all leading record stores in the tri-state and in other areas of Caribbean concentration. As the song continues to tear up airwaves, relief events, and parties, from the Caribbean to Canada, from New York to London, people in solidarity with the 'Spice Isle' seem to be echoing Denison George's plea that "In the eyes of the storm we held strong/Neighbors to neighbors we're pulling along/Brick by brick we'll build again/Tree by tree we'll plant again".

With such efforts, we can have no doubts that Grenada and all Caribbean countries affected by the hurricane Will Rise Again!