The reigning Ghana Music Awards 'Artiste of the Year', Joe Mettle, has revealed on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that he was hawking at a tender age to support his mother due to the financial challenges he encountered.

He disclosed on the mid-morning show with host, Sokoohemaa Kukua that, he started selling at age 16, in order to survive. Joe Mettle said he was selling ‘waakye leaves’ which was the major business of her mother.

However, the business collapsed due to the influx of plastic bags and take-away packs. ‘’I sell before going to school. When I am in the afternoon shift, I sell in the morning. When I am in the morning shift, I sell after school but due to the nature of the job, I wake up very early in the morning to go and sell,’’ he said.

According to him, he understood the situation at the time and sacrificed for the family. Joe Mettle originally born Joseph Oscar Mettle better worked as a backing vocalist for some Ghanaian Gospel greats including Cindy Thompson, late Danny Nettey, and Reverend Tom Bright Davies.

Joe Mettle was the lead singer for the indigenous multicultural music group, Soul Winners.

He has won several awards at Africa Gospel Music Awards, Gospel industry Awards, African Gospel Awards (UK), CCML Ghana Gospel Awards, Bass Awards and RIGA Awards (South Africa). He is a graduate from the Pentecost University where he studied marketing.