The musical Wonda
HAITIAN music producer Jerry Wonda said he was over the moon when he was approached to guest judge on Digicel Rising Stars talent show.
The Grammy-winning producer and musician, who helped take The Fugees to international fame, was in Kingston last weekend as a guest judge on the popular televised talent show.
“Jamaica is a melting pot of undiscovered, real talent that should be on a global stage. This is my opportunity to see them and help because of the artistes I have worked with in the past. I’ve been coming to Jamaica for the last 20 years and know all the top talent,” Wonda told the Jamaica Observer. “You know I have produced so many songs in this country. It inspires me, the people, the passion, the music.”
Wonda, whose real name is Jerry Duplessis, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. At age 14 he began playing bass guitar and lists Wailers ‘bassie’ Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett among his biggest influences.
He migrated to the United States at age 16.
A cousin of former Fugee, Wyclef Jean, Wonda produced The Fugees’ 1996 album The Score which sold over six million copies in the US. He has worked with Jamaican acts.
“I started working with Beenie Man and Bounty Killer around the time I was working on The Fugees album which sold 30 million around the world and went on to win three Grammys. I have worked with Mavado, Shaggy, Assassin, Tifa, Elephant Man, Samantha J, Buju Banton and the Marleys,” said Wonda.
One artiste he is eager to work with is lovers’ rock king Beres Hammond.
“I have spent years working with Jamaican talent. One person I would really love to get in the studio with is Beres Hammond or any other new hot artistes creating a buzz,” he said.
Wonda’s credentials are impressive. Among the hits he has produced are U Smile by Justin Bieber, You Know What It Is by TI, No Substitute Lover by Estelle and My Love is Your Love by Whitney Houston.
Along with Wyclef and Andrea Guerra, Wonda co-produced and co-wrote Million Voices, the theme song for the movie Hotel Rwanda, which was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005.
In 2009, Wonda began producing music on his own. He founded Wonda Music which scored its first major with U Smile.
