Wayne Wonder
Encyclopedia
Wayne Wonder is a Jamaican reggae fusion
(specifically reggae
/ R&B
) artist
. While his early recordings were dancehall
and reggae, he later moved towards hip hop
and rap.
as a child, and began songwriting
at the age of 13, getting a major career break when he was given a regular weekly slot at Metro Media in Allman Town. He auditioned at Sonic Sounds studio, but while Sly Dunbar
was impressed, his touring commitments with Black Uhuru
prevented him from signing Wonder. He had more success, however, with King Tubby
, who produced his first single, "Long and Lasting Love", in 1985, with two more following. Wonder's career suffered a setback when Tubby was killed in 1988, and he recorded for several other record producer
s at Sonic Sound, enjoying a further hit with the Lloyd Dennis-produced "It's Over Now", leading to the release of his first album, No More Chance, although his success in this era was limited. His fortunes improved when he began working with Dave Kelly
, a friend from primary school, who had become resident sound engineer
at Penthouse Studios. The partnership enjoyed a string of hits, starting with "Saddest Day", and they also worked on Wonder's second album, Part 2. His 1990 live performance of Alphaville
's "Forever Young
" was recorded and later released to Alphaville fans in a limited, cassette-only album entitled History
. He toured the UK in 1992 along with other Penthouse stars Marcia Griffiths
, Tony Rebel
, and Buju Banton
. He also recorded "Bonafide Love (Movie Star)" with Buju Banton, and wrote several early hits for him, including the controversial "Boom Bye Bye". He toured again with Banton in 1994 as part of the Penthouse Showcase.
Wonder formed the band Alias along with Kelly, Baby Cham, Frisco Kid, and Frankie Sly, and later Entourage.
In 2000, Wonder launched his own record label
, Singso, and his 2000 album Da Vibe saw him begin to incorporate hip hop into his sound. He collaborated with several other major artists, including Jason Dalyrimple of Soul for Real
, Foxy Brown, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and the move towards hip hop increased with his 2001 album Schizophrenic.
His career really took off internationally when he signed to Atlantic Records
, achieving worldwide success with the song "No Letting Go
" in 2003. The song is based on the Diwali riddim
, which was also used by several other artists that year, such as Sean Paul
, Lumidee
and Missy Elliott
. The single
reached #11 in the US
and #3 in the UK
.
"No Letting Go" and the album No Holding Back were a major success on urban radio stations in the US, and this prompted the release of several compilation album
s featuring older Wonder material, including Trojan Records
', Inna Bashment Style: The Roots Of An Urban Warrior
(2005). A new album, Foreva
was released in 2007. It reached #6 on the US Top Reggae Albums chart
.
Reggae fusion
Reggae fusion is a fusion genre of reggae that mixes reggae or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, house, jazz & drum and bass....
(specifically reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
/ R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
) artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. While his early recordings were dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
and reggae, he later moved towards hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and rap.
Biography
Wonder sang in Sunday schoolSunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
as a child, and began songwriting
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
at the age of 13, getting a major career break when he was given a regular weekly slot at Metro Media in Allman Town. He auditioned at Sonic Sounds studio, but while Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar
Lowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen...
was impressed, his touring commitments with Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru . The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership...
prevented him from signing Wonder. He had more success, however, with King Tubby
King Tubby
King Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
, who produced his first single, "Long and Lasting Love", in 1985, with two more following. Wonder's career suffered a setback when Tubby was killed in 1988, and he recorded for several other record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s at Sonic Sound, enjoying a further hit with the Lloyd Dennis-produced "It's Over Now", leading to the release of his first album, No More Chance, although his success in this era was limited. His fortunes improved when he began working with Dave Kelly
Dave Kelly (producer)
Dave Kelly is a Jamaican Record Producer. He began his career as an Engineer in the late eighties. After getting into producing at the "Penthouse" label of Donovan Germain, he started his own label "Madhouse" together with business partner Janet Davidson in 1991...
, a friend from primary school, who had become resident sound engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
at Penthouse Studios. The partnership enjoyed a string of hits, starting with "Saddest Day", and they also worked on Wonder's second album, Part 2. His 1990 live performance of Alphaville
Alphaville (band)
Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
's "Forever Young
Forever Young (Alphaville song)
"Forever Young" is the title track from German rock/synthpop group Alphaville's 1984 debut album of the same name. Though it was not the group's highest-charting European hit and failed to reach the American Top 40 despite three separate U.S...
" was recorded and later released to Alphaville fans in a limited, cassette-only album entitled History
History (Alphaville album)
History is the rarest of Alphaville albums.Released in 1993 only on cassette, and only to members of the official fan club, History is a collection of early Alphaville demo tracks, b-sides, and a few out-takes.-Track listing:...
. He toured the UK in 1992 along with other Penthouse stars Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Llyneth Griffiths is a successful female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".Griffiths started her career in 1964...
, Tony Rebel
Tony Rebel
Tony Rebel is a Jamaican reggae deejay. He was initially a singer, appearing as Papa Tony or Tony Ranking in local talent contests and on sound systems including Sugar Minott's 'Youth Promotion'...
, and Buju Banton
Buju Banton
Buju Banton is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae musician.Banton has recorded pop and dance songs, as well as songs dealing with sociopolitical topics....
. He also recorded "Bonafide Love (Movie Star)" with Buju Banton, and wrote several early hits for him, including the controversial "Boom Bye Bye". He toured again with Banton in 1994 as part of the Penthouse Showcase.
Wonder formed the band Alias along with Kelly, Baby Cham, Frisco Kid, and Frankie Sly, and later Entourage.
In 2000, Wonder launched his own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Singso, and his 2000 album Da Vibe saw him begin to incorporate hip hop into his sound. He collaborated with several other major artists, including Jason Dalyrimple of Soul for Real
Soul for Real
Soul for Real is an R&B group from Wheatley Heights, New York, made up of brothers Andre , Brian , Christopher , and Jason Dalyrimple...
, Foxy Brown, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and the move towards hip hop increased with his 2001 album Schizophrenic.
His career really took off internationally when he signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, achieving worldwide success with the song "No Letting Go
No Letting Go
"No Letting Go" is a reggae fusion song recorded by Jamaican singer Wayne Wonder. The song was written by Steven Marsden and V.W. Charles and produced by Marsden. It was included on Wonder's 2003 studio album No Holding Back and was released as the lead single from the album...
" in 2003. The song is based on the Diwali riddim
Diwali Riddim
Greensleeves Rhythm Album #27: Diwali, also known as the Diwali Riddim, is an album and popular dancehall riddim that came to prominence in 2002...
, which was also used by several other artists that year, such as Sean Paul
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...
, Lumidee
Lumidee
Lumidee Cedeño is an American singer-songwriter and rapper. Cedeño was born in Spanish Harlem where she was raised by her grandparents...
and Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
. The single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
reached #11 in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and #3 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
"No Letting Go" and the album No Holding Back were a major success on urban radio stations in the US, and this prompted the release of several compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s featuring older Wonder material, including Trojan Records
Trojan Records
Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
', Inna Bashment Style: The Roots Of An Urban Warrior
Inna Bashment Style: The Roots of an Urban Warrior
-Tracklisting:#Where Do Broken Hearts Go#Come Mi Darling#If You Are Not Here#Don't Lose Your Way#One More Chance#It's Been So Long#She's Out Of My Life#It's Got To Be A Miracle#Forever Young#Gimme That Love#Somebody's Watching Me#New Way To Say I Love You...
(2005). A new album, Foreva
Foreva
Foreva is an album by Wayne Wonder.The first single off the album is "For My Love" featuring Trina.-Tracklisting:#Foreva - 0:40#Again - 3:10#Gonna Love You - 4:03#Original Share My Love - 4:38#For My Love - 3:47...
was released in 2007. It reached #6 on the US Top Reggae Albums chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Reggae Albums | US Billboard Hot 200 | US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Wayne Wonder Wayne Wonder (album) Wayne Wonder is the self-titled debut album by Wayne Wonder.-Tracklisting:#Eternal Flame#What Could It Be#Here and Now#If You Were Here#One Night#All This Time#That Night#Suspicious Minds#I Need Someone#Hold On... |
- | - | - |
| 1991 | Part 2 | - | - | - |
| 2000 | Da Vibe Da Vibe -Tracklisting:#Keep Them Coming#Watching You#Last Night#Snitches & Spies#Blazing#Informer#Let Your Conscience Set You Free#Ready To Ride#Criss Pack A Boots#The Best#Searching Dem Searching#Rainbow#Joy Ride#Bashment Girl... |
- | - | - |
| 2001 | Schizophrenic Schizophrenic (Wayne Wonder album) -Tracklisting:#Sasha#Platinum Mall#Just Might Squeeze#Tragedy#I Like The Way#Easily Change#Who Give U The Right#Treat U Right#Makes Me Wonder#You Don't Know#Dead Serious#Curious#Mr. Man... |
- | - | - |
| 2003 | No Holding Back No Holding Back No Holding Back is a reggae fusion album by Wayne Wonder, a Jamaican-American hip hop musician. The single No Letting Go contributed to making this album Wonder's most successful... |
2 | 29 | 10 |
| 2003 | You Me And She You Me and She -Tracklisting:#New Way#Here I Am#Come Home to Me#Baby Come Back to Me#Never Want to Let You Down#Forever#You Me and She#She Is Out Of My Life#We Work So Hard#All I Want Is Your Love#Grey Skies to Blue#Learn How to Play#Make It Up To You... |
- | - | - |
| 2004 | Grey Skies To Blue Grey Skies to Blue -Tracklisting:#New Way#Here I Am#Come Home to Me#Baby Come Back to Me#Never Want to Let You Down#Forever#You Me and She#She Is Out Of My Life#We Work So Hard#All I Want Is Your Love#Grey Skies to Blue#Learn How to Play#Make It Up To You... |
- | - | - |
| 2005 | Inna Bashment Style: The Roots Of An Urban Warrior Inna Bashment Style: The Roots of an Urban Warrior -Tracklisting:#Where Do Broken Hearts Go#Come Mi Darling#If You Are Not Here#Don't Lose Your Way#One More Chance#It's Been So Long#She's Out Of My Life#It's Got To Be A Miracle#Forever Young#Gimme That Love#Somebody's Watching Me#New Way To Say I Love You... |
- | - | - |
| 2006 | Don't Have To Don't Have To (album) -Tracklisting:#Heal Massa God World #Bonafide Love#Die Without You#Love Will Lead You Back#Saddest Day Of My Life#Hey Lorna#Woman A How#Missing You#Give My Love A Try#Don't Have To#Smaddy Pickney#Feeling Soul#Heat Of The Moment... |
- | - | - |
| 2006 | Original Bombshell Original Bombshell -Tracklisting:#Original Bombshell#Emptiness#Canabis Vibes#Sweet & Sour#Hurry#What You Gonna Do#Taking Control#Sail#Zero#Dancehall#No More#Saddest Day [Remix]#Wonder Surprise#Rumours#Honey's Fine#Only You... |
- | - | - |
| 2006 | Reggae Chronicles Reggae Chronicles -Tracklisting:#All I Want Is Love#You Me And She#Baby Come Back To Me#You Are My Woman#Come Home To Me#We Work So Hard#Forever Young#The Way You Make Me Do#Good Things Come My Way#Time's Running Out#Grey Skies To Blue#She's Out Of My Life#Here I Am... |
- | - | - |
| 2007 | Foreva Foreva Foreva is an album by Wayne Wonder.The first single off the album is "For My Love" featuring Trina.-Tracklisting:#Foreva - 0:40#Again - 3:10#Gonna Love You - 4:03#Original Share My Love - 4:38#For My Love - 3:47... |
6 | - | - |
| 2011 | - | - | - | - |
Singles
| Year | Single | UK official chart | US Billboard Hot 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Something Different"/"The Train is Coming" (Shaggy featuring Wayne Wonder) | 21 | - |
| 2003 | "No Letting Go No Letting Go "No Letting Go" is a reggae fusion song recorded by Jamaican singer Wayne Wonder. The song was written by Steven Marsden and V.W. Charles and produced by Marsden. It was included on Wonder's 2003 studio album No Holding Back and was released as the lead single from the album... " |
3 | 11 |
| 2003 | "Bounce Along Bounce Along "Bounce Along" is a reggae fusion song recorded by Jamaican singer Wayne Wonder. The song was written by Steven Marsden and V.W. Charles and Paul Edmund and produced by Marsden. It was included on Wonder's 2003 studio album No Holding Back and was released as the second single from the album... " |
19 | - |
| 2004 | "Hold Me Now" (from the movie Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... , 50 First Dates 50 First Dates 50 First Dates is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal and written by George Wing. The film stars Adam Sandler as a woman-chasing veterinarian and Drew Barrymore as an amnesiac, along with Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Lusia Strus, Blake Clark, and Dan Aykroyd.Most of the film... ) |
- | - |
| 2006 | "You" | - | - |
| 2007 | "Gonna Love You" | - | - |
| 2007 | "Again" | - | - |
| 2007 | "For My Love" (featuring Trina Trina Katrina Laverne Taylor , better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Miami, Florida. Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com to the single "Nann Nigga"... ) |
- | - |