Noel Orane Willis

Photos by Jar Studios.

First introduced at only age four singing ‘Greatest Love of All’ by Whitney Houston, during intermission for The Grace Thrillers, Noel O. Willis knew music was his passion. The sounds! The rhythms! The beats! .... All these effects stir an intriguing “cymbal” in his core as he watches their impact on peoples’ emotions and reactions. Today, Noel portrays his own version of this under the leading of the Holy Spirit.  

Willis grew up in a musical family, which helped to prepare his present foundation for the personal journey in ministry on which he currently embarks. Born to Noel E. Willis and Shirley Willis, founder and lead singer respectively of the legendary Caribbean Gospel group The Grace Thrillers, Noel had an inevitable calling on his life to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through music.  Raised in Jamaica, he spent most of his childhood with the group, granting him the privilege to experience a trail mark of indelible footprints locally and internationally.  During this time, Noel learnt the importance of balancing family and business in a demanding industry, the versatility of playing multiple instruments with a special love for the bass guitar; and to really discover and develop his unique sound of music, while never forgetting the true source of his gift, the Holy Spirit. 

As a born leader and with his raw talent, Noel discerned the need to sharpen his art. As such, he decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Music Technology at the Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL.    This move helped him to nurture his appeal as a leader, to improve on his song writing skills and to refine his vocal abilities.  Additionally, with introspection and his new level of maturity, Noel pulled inspiration from model Gospel icons like Fred Hammond, Jonathon McReynolds, Tye Tribbett, Noel E. Willis, Jermaine Edwards, Commissioned and others, to really recognize that his talent goes far beyond singing.

On his conquest to further discover his gift in servitude to Christ, Wills returned to Jamaica shortly after graduating university in 2005, to accept the role as lead singer for the Grace Thrillers - Younger Generation.  Along with the group, Noel seized the opportunity to minister to a wide span of people within the Caribbean, the UK and the United States. Under his leadership, the group released three (3) albums with a total of seven (7) songs written by Willis.  Additionally, in light of Noel’s nature to be flexible, during this particular period of self-exploration he shared in freelance ministry, to sing alongside artistes like Kirk Franklin, Byron Cage, and Shirley Caesar.

Noel however, strongly felt he was only at the crossroads to where he truly belonged. Therefore, he returned to the United States, to later settle in Orlando, FL in 2010 as the Minister of Music for Fresh Oil Ministries Church of God.   At Fresh Oil Ministries, he had the opportunity to serve Christ with his gift with the outpouring of his all into ministry, while doing something he loved passionately. As such, in stewardship to God and under His anointing, Willis was called on to minister on several stages and ministries, including local concerts within the Central Florida area.  As the doors start to open, his burning desire to ignite his solo ministry after many years of procrastination, was undeniable. 

So, Noel made a U-turn towards his destined path from his crossroads at the beginning of 2016, when he decided to begin working on his first EP. Under the indwelling spirit, Noel was led to the title track Used by You  which will be released in June 2016 as his first single.  When ask what influenced this song, Willis says, “I want to devote my gifts to Christ, and in order to serve Him, I must avail myself to be used by Him”.  Noel O. Willis, father to Noel Z. Willis and Liam J. Willis, and husband to childhood friend Melissa Allen Willis, is contemporary; he voices and writes all his songs with beautiful uniqueness and spiritual exuberance with the Holy Spirit at the helm of his “organization”.  He suggests that, sharing in his ordained ministry, promises a phenomenal journey of soulful transformations at every juncture!