Cézar Cunningham, from ever since he was a young boy poring over his father's record collection he discovered and became hooked to the musical content of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Stevie Wonder, Nat King Cole and a myriad of others.

Photo: Naphtali Junior

His personal journey musically began when he was attending Howard University in the United States. Having been singing since he was a youngster he joined a band of talented Jamaican youngsters known as Earthvibes.

Cézar knew that music was his calling when he attended a Lucy Pearl Concert and found the guitar pick belonging to lead singers Raphael Saadiq that he flung into the crowd. "I thought it was a sign, he says, "I still have it."

There are no limits to what Cézar will accomplish. He remains devoted to his mission of taking his music to the world. He has the tools, the drive and the talent and TEENage is bringing him to you. Here is what the talented singer had to say:

TEENage: What have you been up to and what projects are you currently working on?

Cézar: I'm wrapping up my first official album. I have been in the studios a lot doing lots of reviews and writing stuff that weren't released. There's a lot of thought that goes into the writing process and I've been caught up with that process. Currently, I have the Coca-Cola endorsement which is my biggest deal yet. It includes a lot of travelling and exposure for me and Jamaica as well since the artistes that they are working with are from other countries as well. Both the endorsement and the album will require me to tour.

TEENage: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Cézar: Essentially from my life and from people close to me. There's inspiration everywhere, but it depends on how you want to interpret it.

TEENage: How did you break into the music industry?

Cézar: I started performing just when I was about to leave St George's College. A friend and I used to perform at a couple of shows together. In college, I started writing and performing. I gave a demo tape I'll Be There to Jazzy-T in 2002 and I got a call from Jamaica that the song was on the radio so I decided to come back home and give it a shot.

TEENage: How do you describe your music?
Cézar: (Laughs). Thinks carefully before answering. I call it reggae-soul. Essentially reggae with a soul R&B influence.

TEENage: What are some of your accomplishments both locally and internationally?

Cézar: I was lucky enough to co-write with Tami Chynn, Wayne Marshall and Machel Montano. I was awarded for song-writing by the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Keep on (The Game of Life) is on the charts in France and licenced in at least four countries.

TEENage: Where were you and who did you call when you heard your first song being played on the radio?

Cézar: I was in Washington DC and someone called me from Jamaica to tell me that the song was being played on the radio.

TEENage: What current deals are you negotiating?
Cézar: Just trying to negotiate the distribution of the album and the licensing for some singles that were previously released.

TEENage: Apart from being a musician, what is your day job?

Cézar: Ummm. I'm a trained architect, but I don't practice much. So, it's just being a musician.

TEENage: Any special/ hidden talents?

Cézar: Football and art in general. I draw and paint.

TEENage: What's the name of your latest single?

Cézar: Can't Get Over You produced by Mario C. I'm currently trying to get a video done for it, but nothing is really concrete.

TEENage: Are you a homeboy or are you a socialite?

Cézar: About half and half. I stay home a lot and I'm usually quiet. Even when I go out I'm normally in the shadows. I like to think of myself as balanced though.

TEENage: What's your take on the whole pornography in the media? (That is, all the tapes and pictures.)

Cézar: I haven't seen any tapes, but I thinks it's intrusive and unfair because it's their private life. However, it is the risk you take when you film or document those acts. The people who send these tapes infringe on people's lives and their rights to privacy.

TEENage: Do you see the need for local celebrities to have publicists?

Cézar: Yes, I think there's a need. Need is a strong word, but there is value to it, It's important for the public to know what's going on with you, but the public doesn't have a right to our life and a publicist helps to reduce what gets out that might be damaging to the celeb.

Cézar would like to thank all the radio stations and the media that supports him especially the Jamaica Observer, Renaissance Productions, David Kennedy, Rodney Hill, Steven Wilson, Steve Wilson and Shannon Hart as well as all the other persons that have supported him. To learn nore about Cézar and his music, visit his websites at www.cezarmusic.com.

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