While sitting down to do an interview with him outside Suzies Bakery in the Southdale plaza, HWT, we are interrupted several times by giggling school girls who shout out his name and grin impishly, or by adult women who drop by to squeeze him and gently tattoo red lipstick on his cheeks.

They just cant keep their hands off him. Ever since he dropped the Yogi , and created this new Courtney John the Mayor image, the dreadlocked singer has been winning over a legion of new fans, especially teenage girls and young female professionals.

This happy fact was underlined by the initial success of doing a number of bouquet shows at smaller venues, allowing him to connect with his audience in an intimate setting.

Audiences are really going for it, they love Courtney John, they finally have me repackaged in a way so they can take me home with them. They listened to Yogi, you take home Courtney John, he said, smiling.

The singers career is poised to take off in a big way. CJs most recent hit, Sometimes, on his own Fi Wi Music label is now #16 on the Jamaica Music Countdown charts while his album, Unselfish is inching its way up the reggae top ten charts, and is now at #7, a serious contender for album of the year. In the meantime, his latest single Baby Tonight is getting superb rotation on local radio stations.

While his reggae music peers have been quietly suggesting that he has sold-out, CJ has no qualms about his choices.

Of course, I sell out, I am selling out tickets for my shows, I am selling CDs, downloads, it is a sell off business, but I still own my soul. I will sell CDs, and tickets but never my soul, that is what defines me, he said.

It has worked, everyday I hear four or six of my songs playing on the radio, and remember, this is not my first album, so it must be something about the persona that resonates with the public, especially the women.

He will be appearing on the T Pain show this weekend at the Sugarman Beach in Portmore.