Actor/artiste E-Dee is among the millions of people in Jamaica’s Diaspora who followed the path and aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in late October. The forecasts were ominous and proved deadly accurate.

Watching the vast destruction the Category 5 storm caused in Jamaica disturbed the Los Angeles-based E-Dee who is from the town of Toll Gate in Clarendon. It inspired him to write, record and produce We A Rebuild.

“I’ve been glued to it, it’s been all over the news. That thing slammed Jamaica with insane winds up to 185 miles an hour, causing like $8 billion in damage. Devastating stuff,” E-Dee told the Observer Online.

Melissa touched down in Jamaica on October 28 and wrecked the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny. While not as bad, Clarendon and neighbouring Manchester sustained considerable damage.

E-Dee disclosed that several of his relatives were affected by the destructive hurricane. He said sales from We A Rebuild will go to the relief effort in Jamaica.

Born Everton Dennis, E-Dee has lived in Los Angeles for many years. He is a major player in the city’s dancehall scene, recording three albums and three EPs.

Grateful, his latest EP, was released on August 21 by Clarendon Records.

He has also appeared in several movies including the autobiographical Out The Gate, Temperature Rising and Mother In Law.

–       Howard Campbell