Wayne Wonder

 V
Location:
Kingston Jamaica, Florida, US
Type:
Artist / Band / Musician
Genre:
Reggae / R&B / Rap
Site(s):
Label:
VP Records
Type:
Major
WAYNE WONDER
Bio
Although Reggae Dancehall deejays (rappers) must be lyrically tough,
unleashing rapid‐fire guns in the ghetto rhymes and inflated sexual
boastings, Reggae Dancehall singers can attain great popularity
sensitively cooing about a new found love, melodically lamenting a love
gone wrong and emotionally conveying other oh‐so tender concerns. The
sensual, honeyed vocals of Wayne Wonder have made him a consistent
hit maker with both extraordinary songs for lovers and the streets since
the late 80s.
Born Von Wayne Charles on July 26 in Buff Bay, Portland, Wayne’s initial
singing inspiration came from attending Sunday school, where singing was compulsory, and
from his mother who sang in church.
The first producer Wayne recorded for was the legendary creator of dub, the late King Tubby,
then he moved on to some of the greats such as Dave Kelly, Tony CD Kelly, Donovan
Germaine's Penthouse Records, Steve "Lenky" Marsden, Steelie and Cleevie, Bobby Digital,
Don Corleon, Sly and Robbie and No Doubt's Tony Kanal to name a few.
Wayne achieved several hits with Penthouse covering the work of American artists including
Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car," PM Dawn's "Die Without You" and En Vogue's "Hold On." In
1993 he pledged he would focus on recording original material. Since then, Wayne has cowritten
hits for other artists including Buju Banton's "Deportees" and "Murderer". Wayne
says, "I don't feel proud if I cannot sing my songs, it's a different feeling that it gives you than
singing someone else's song. How can I be touring and singing other people's songs? I'm
supposed to be touring and singing my songs!"
Wayne recorded many hits in the mid to late 90s, including "Joyride," "Bashment Gal," and
"Keep Them Coming." Wayne introduced an extra dimension with "Let Your Conscience Set
You Free," recorded in combination with his alter ego, deejay Surprize. “Really, I'm the deejay
as well as the singer, that is the surprise.” Surprize was also featured on several tracks of
Wayne's 2001 release Schizophrenic as was Wayne's underground group Entourage, featuring
his deejay protégé Showki Ru. Wayne launched his own record label Singso Music in 2000
and has released singles by several artistes including Baby Cham, Alley Cat, Frankie Sly, and
Mr. Easy.
In 2002, Wayne earned the first 1 hit of his career pledging a lifetime of devotion on the
sweetly romantic hit "No Letting Go". Steve "Lenky" Marsden, the multi‐talented musician
and producer, whose hypnotic Diwali rhythm track supports Wayne's sweet serenading on
"No Letting Go" is one of the featured producers on the album, along with heavy hitters Tony
Kelly and Sly Dunbar. Much of the pre‐production work was done in Wayne's home studio in
the US, as well as recording tracks in Jamaica. Wayne wrote or co‐wrote all of the songs on
No Holding Back and the album featured the same superlative vocal and songwriting
standards his fans have come to expect from him over the years. Wayne's career exploded
globally in 2003 when his album No Holding Back and the single "No Letting Go" were
released on the major label, Atlantic Records. The smooth single dominated Urban and Pop
radio (reaching 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop chart) in America and the album, No Holding
Back received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album, a MOBO Award in the UK, three
BMI Urban awards, and a live performance on NBC Television's "Saturday Night Live." The
follow‐up single and video "Bounce Along" reached 12 on the UK pop charts.
His inspired version of "Hold Me Now" (originally recorded by the Thompson Twins) appeared
on the 2004's successful 50 First Dates (starring Adam Sandler / Drew Barrymore) movie
soundtrack and was produced by No Doubt's Tony Kanal with a video directed by Gil Green.
Wayne also anchored the hit track "Anything Goes" (w/ CNN: Capone & N.O.R.E and Lexxus)
for the Def Jamaica compilation which received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae
Album. These songs, among so many of Wayne's bonafide hits, were crowd favorites as he
headlined an extensive world tour with his Singso Band in 2004‐05 performing in N. America,
the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa
Wayne has recorded combinations with LISA LEFT EYE LOPES, WYCLEF JEAN, LL COOL J, FOXY
BROWN, FAT JOE, BUJU BANTON, J SEAN, SHAGGY and MARICA GRIFFITHS just to name a
few
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