- Jerry Duplessis
-
Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis is a Grammy Award nominated Haitian-born musical composer and record producer. His first major success was as producer for The Fugees' 1996 album The Score. He also played the bass guitar with The Fugees, and band member Wyclef Jean is his cousin.
Contents
Music Career
Early Life
Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis was born and raised in a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At 14, he began playing the bass. Early influences at this time included Aston Barrett, and James Jamerson. At 16, he was sent to the US and was raised by his father and his aunt who was also Wyclef's mother. The basement of their family home soon became their home studio.
From church to some time at the Institute of Audio Research, and gigs wherever he could play, their home studio "Booga Basement" was opened serving artists near New Jersey. Wyclef, Samuel Pras Michel, and Lauren Hill would then unite to create a new Caribbean style group ultimately known as The Fugees. Wonda and Wyclef would align to provide production for the group which would be signed by Ruffhouse/Columbia. Label mates at the time would include Cypress Hill and Kris Kross.
Jerry Wonda/Wyclef Jean Years
Jerry Wonda and Wyclef Jean's producing would take off with The Fugees. Their cover of the Roberta Flack classic, "Killing Me Softly" sung by lead vocalist Lauryn Hill reached No. 2 on the Pop charts and No. 1 on the R&B charts. Co-produced by Wonda, their album The Score would become one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time gaining worldwide recognition.
Wonda would divide his time touring as a bassist and musical director with The Fugees and producing for upcoming artists such as Destiny's Child with a remix of "No No No." He attributes his musical success to tailoring each of his productions specifically tailored to a particular artist. “When we are on stage every song is different, every show is different, and when working with other artists, I make the beat for the specific artist,” Wonda explained. “I find out what fits each artist before delivering the song.” Several productions ranging from hop hop, pop, r&b, rock, soul, and reggae would follow.
Wonda and Wyclef would make history in 2000. Santana's Supernatural single "Maria Maria," which Wonda co-produced, held the No. 1 chart position for 10 weeks. In 2006, the duo produced Shakira's worldwide hit "Hips Don't Lie" from album Oral Fixation Vol. 2. It became the top selling song of the 21st century and reached No. 1 in more than 50 countries, leading Shakira to be the 1st female Columbian singer to top Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Film Scoring
In 1996, Wonda would co-produce The Fugees All-Star Ali tribute "Rumble In The Jungle" featuring A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes for the Muhammad Ali documentary "When We Were Kings." The Warren Beatty film Bulworth includes Wonda's "Ghetto Superstar (That Is What You Are)" performed by Pras Michel, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Maya and "How Come" by Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour & Canibus.
Alongside Wyclef and Andrea Guerra, Wonder wrote and produced the theme song "Million Voices" for the movie Hotel Rwanda, which was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005.[1] The same song was later nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.[2] Other film credits include The Manchurian Candidate, Dave Chappelle's "Block Party," and "50 First Dates."
Platinum Sound Recording Studios
In 2001, Wonda built Platinum Sound Recording Studios in Times Square, NYC. Studio J features an 80 channel Solid State Logic 9000J with Ultimation and Total Recall, main custom 3-way monitor system by George Augspurger, Yamaha NS-10's, a Pro Tools HD4 system, and a variety of outboard gear. Studio K hosts an 80 channel Solid State Logic 9000K with Ultimation and Total Recall, main custom Westlake / TAD monitor system, Yamaha NS10's, and a Pro Tools HD4 system. Studio K is also 5.1 capable, perfect for overdubbing, ADR, pre and post-production.
Yéle Haiti
Wonda and Wyclef co-founded non-profit Yéle Haiti providing assistance to Haiti in education, health, environment and community development. “We created Yele Haiti because we are from Haiti,” said Wonda. “We want to give people from the impoverished nation equal access to education and opportunity and equip them with the necessary tools to be self reliant.” Wonda has hosted several diplomats and activists to the country including former President Bill Clinton, Angelina Jolie, and Petra Nemcova.
2009 - Present
In 2009, Wonda created Wonda Music and began producing on his own, placing his first record with teen sensation, Justin Biebers with "U Smile." He has since followed up several placements to include artists Mary J. Blige, Musiq Soulchild, Keri Hilson, and Lupe Fiasco. He has begun signing artists, producers, and songwriters. His first artists are Sean McGee, Annekei and YFame, and producers Arden 'Keyz' Altino, Akene 'the Champ' Dunkley, and Oliver 'Akos' Castelli.
Producer and Co-Producer
Song Title Artist Album Year "Thank You" Estelle All of Me 2011 "Never Forget You" Lupe Fiasco featuring John Legend Lasers 2011 "Out of My Head" Lupe Fiasco featuring Trey Songz Lasers 2011 "Someone to Love Me (Naked)" Mary J. Blige featuring Diddy & Lil' Wayne My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act I) 2011 "Anything" Musiq Soulchild featuring Swizz Beatz MusiqInTheMagiq 2011 "Southern Hospitality" Hal Linton 2010 "All the Boys" Keri Hilson No Boys Allowed 2010 "U Smile" Justin Bieber My World 2.0 2010 "You've Got a Friend" Ron Isley featuring Aretha Franklin Mr. I 2010 "Someone to Love Me" Diddy Dirty Money Last Train to Paris 2010 "Grown Man" Gucci Mane featuring Estelle The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted 2010 "Dollar Sign" Gucci Mane The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted 2010 "Ice Cream Girl" Sean Kingston 2010 "Bedtime Story" Buju Banton Rasta Got Soul 2010 "Ballin" Haitian Fresh featuring Wyclef NBA Live 2010 2010 "Spanish Fly" Aventura The Last 2009 "Spy" Shakira She Wolf 2009 "You Think You Got It Bad" Lyfe Jennings Lyfe Change 2008 "Wild Wild Wild" Lyfe Jennings Lyfe Change 2008 Various Wyclef Jean Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant 2008 "Rollout" Labelle Back To Now 2008 "So Much Out the Way" Estelle Shine 2008 "No Substitute Love" Estelle Shine 2008 "My Swag" T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. 2008 "You Know What It Is" T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. 2008 "Coqui" Omarion Feel the Noise Soundtrack 2007 "I'm Coming Home" Lionel Richie Coming Home 2006 "I Apologize" Lionel Richie Coming Home 2006 "Dangerous" Ying Yang Twins Chemically Imbalanced 2006 "Million Voices" Hotel Rwanda Hotel Rwanda Soundtrack 2004 Various Wyclef Jean Creole 101 2004 Various Wyclef Jean The Preacher's Son 2003 Various Tom Jones Mr. Jones 2003 Various Wyclef Jean Masquerade 2002 Various Jimmy Cozier Jimmy Cozier 2001 Loving You (Ole Ole Ole) Brian Harvey Solo 2001 Various City High City High 2001 Various Wyclef Jean The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book 2000 "Loving Your Best" Eric Benet A Day in the Life 1999 Various Destiny's Child The Writing's on the Wall 1999 Various Pras Ghetto Supastar 1998 Various Canibus Can-I-Bus 1998 Various 98 Degrees 98 Degrees and Rising 1998 Various Wyclef Jean The Carnival 1997 Various The Fugees The Score 1997 References
- ^ 62nd Golden Globe Awards nominees
- ^ The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards Roundup: Film/TV/Visual Media Field Grammy.com, January 24, 2006
External links
Categories:- Hip hop record producers
- Grammy Award winners
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