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I am an:: Indie Artist

Artist's or Band's Name: Wayne Wonder & D'Angel

City & State: kingston

Country: jamaica

Music Genre(s):: reggae

Bio:: Born Von Wayne Charles on July 26 in Buff Bay, Portland, Wayne s initial singing inspiration came from attending Sunday school, where singing was compulsory, and from his mother who sang in church. As a child Wayne and his family moved all over eastern Kingston, living in areas such as Dunkirk, Franklin Town and Rae Town, home of the weekly Sunday night Reggae/R&B oldies street dance. The exposure to vintage 45′s at these dances would provide Wayne with a richer, more soulful vocal approach to a Reggae rhythm track than many of his contemporaries. It was at secondary school where Wayne’s thoughtfulness and philosophical nature led to the acquisition of the nickname Wonder; young Wayne sang at school, at home, at church and for his friends and wherever he sang, he was encouraged to pursue his craft professionally.

The first producer Wayne recorded for was the legendary creator of dub, the late King Tubby. Wayne voiced three original songs for Tubby, but the one that caught the public’s attention was his cover version of British heartthrob Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” In 1988, Wayne was devastated by the death of Tubby who was among the most significant influences in his early career. Wayne then linked up with producer Lloyd Dennis voicing the hit “It’s Over Now” on the popular Cover Me rhythm (titled after the hit by Ninja Man and Tinga Stewart) for Dennis’ Pickout label. “That was actually the first song that start to play, like I could go to the dance and look forward to hearing it,” Wayne recalls, “so my inspiration grew more from there.” Wayne also recorded his debut album No More Chance on the Pickout label. No More Chance conta+ined seven original tracks and several obligatory cover versions, reflecting Jamaican producers preference for recording singers doing American R&B hits. “When I first started out, I got so frustrated, because you carry original material to the studio and they act like they don’t even want to hear it,” Wayne explains. “They don’t accept it. They want you to sing over something that everybody already know. Them don’t spend time to hear your creativity or what you try to originate.”

Around 1989, Wayne began collaborating with his childhood friend Dave Kelly. At the time, Kelly was an engineer for Donovan Germaine’s Penthouse Records, the label synonymous with Dancehall Reggae hits of the late 80s/early 90s. Together Wayne and Dave created a steady stream of successful Penthouse tunes including “I’m Only Human,” “Baby You and I” and “Saddest Day” (which Wayne re-recorded in combination with Foxy Brown on her 2001 Def Jam Records Broken Silence CD). Wayne became well known for his 1991 cover version of the late Jamaican singer Delroy Wilson’s “I Don t Know Why” re-titled “Movie Star.” The same song in combination with Buju Banton (whom Wayne brought to Penthouse Records) “Bonafide Love” proved to be a huge success as well, remaining a heavily requested tune even today.

Wayne achieved several hits with Penthouse covering the work of American artists including Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” PM Dawn’s “Die Without You” and En Vogue’s “Hold On” but in 1993 he pledged he would only record original material. “From that time, I haven’t covered a song, everything is all original music,” declares Wayne who has co-written hits for other artists including Buju Banton’s “Deportees” and “Murderer.” Wayne says,”I don’t feel proud if I cannot sing my songs, it’s a different feel that it gives you than singing someone else’s song. How can I be touring and singing other people’s songs? I’m supposed to be touring and singing my songs!”

Wayne and Dave Kelly continued their successful musical relationship when Kelly founded his own Madhouse and Xtra Large labels. Wayne recorded many hits for Madhouse spanning the mid to late 90s, including “Joyride,” “Bashment Gal,” and “Keep Them Coming.” Wayne introduced an extra dimension with “Let Your Conscience Set You Free” recorded in combination with his alter ego, deejay Surprize. “I have a lot of tracks on the road like Wayne Wonder featuring Surprize. Really, I’m the deejay as well as the singer, that is the surprise. My creative juices get crazy on me so I apply them in different ways.” Surprize was also featured on several tracks of Wayne’s 2001 release Schizophrenic as was Wayne’s underground group Entourage, featuring his deejay protege Showki Ru (pronounced sho-kee roo). Wayne launched his own record label Singso in 2000 and has released singles by several artists including Baby Cham, Alley Cat, Frankie Sly, and Mr. Easy.

In 2002, Wayne earned the first #1 hit of his career pledging a lifetime of devotion on the sweetly romantic hit “No Letting Go.” Steve “Lenky” Marsden, the multitalented musician and producer, whose hypnotic Diwali rhythm track supports Wayne’s sweet serenading on “No Letting Go” is one of the featured producers on the album, along with heavy hitters Tony Kelly and Sly Dunbar.

Much of the pre-production work was done in Wayne’s home studio in the US, as well as recording tracks in Jamaica. Wayne wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on No Holding Back and the album featured the same superlative vocal and songwriting standards his fans have come to expect from him over the years. Wonder’s career exploded globally in 2003 when his album No Holding Back and the single “No Letting Go” were released on the major label, Atlantic Records. The smooth single dominated Urban and Pop radio (reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop chart) in America and the album, No Holding Back received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album, a MOBO Award in the UK, three BMI Urban awards, and a live performance on NBC Television’s “Saturday Night Live.” The follow-up single and video “Bounce Along” reached #12 on the UK pop charts.

His inspired version of “Hold Me Now” (originally recorded by the Thompson Twins) appeared on the 2004′s successful 50 First Dates (starring Adam Sandler / Drew Barrymore) movie soundtrack and was produced by No Doubt’s Tony Kanal with a video directed by Gil Green for Madonna’s Maverick Records label. Wayne also anchored the hit track “Anything Goes” (w/ CNN: Capone & N.O.R.E and Lexxus) for the Def Jamaica compilation which received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album. These songs among so many of Wayne’s bonafide hits were crowd favorites as he headlined an extensive world tour with his Entourage Band in 2004-05 performing in N. America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa

I just want to do good songs,” Wayne concludes. “I’m keeping the mainstream recognition in mind but adding my creative flow to it because I want people to know that Wayne Wonder is not limited. Once I finish an album, I’ll hit the road and tour. I got a good band together and I really feel pleased. I can go out there now and really represent myself.”

Michelle Downer, born and raised in Spanish Town and is now known to the world as D’Angel. She maintains a constant presence on the dancehall scene both locally and internationally for the past few years now.

Hailing from St. Catherine High School, a businesswoman, an artiste and now a mother, D’ Angel is the epitome of a true Caribbean woman, focused on fulfilling her life’s dream of becoming one of the top dancehall artistes on the world stage. D’Angel continues to break down barriers and is a role model to numerous young women. She’s resiliently confident, a very hard worker and most of all she continues to be in demand.

D'Angel
Those close to D’Angel from childhood knew that she was destined to be on stage because at an early age her friends and family would often served as her audience while she practiced her vocals while entertaining them. Eventually she was performing at school parties, concerts and even in class. However, like most life journeys there is sometimes a detour and this was the case for D’Angel’s musical journey.

She drifted from her musical pursuits and entered the world of glitz, glamour and couture when she took on a modeling career in the early 90s. Strutting runways and landing alluring photo shoots for brands such as Rocawear only prepared her for the bigger spotlight that she would later receive in the music fraternity. The promising A-List lifestyle and popularity were not enough, though to keep D’Angel away from Jamaica and in 2002 she returned home and immediately capitalized on her entrepreneurial skills by opening her unisex fashion boutique ‘Angel’s’.

D’Angel felt like something vital was missing from her life despite her modeling career and a fashion boutique ‘in the bag’; it was her ultimate love and dream for Music. She began to pursue her musical career by writing songs and doing studio sessions and her first solo effort was released in 2004, titled ’Hottie Girls’ which was produced by Kevin Blake. Subsequently followed by her break-out single ‘Downtown Girl…Livin Uptown’ in 2005, which danced its way to number one on several local charts under the banner of her label Champagne International Records.

In 2006, D’Angel dominated local and international media with her celebrity marriage to Dancehall Mogul Beenie Man and both collaborated on the hit single: One Man, which could be heard on all local radio stations, car stereos and dancehall sessions. She released several singles including; Woman Power that petitioned the strength of a woman and implored society to give women the respect and opportunities that they deserve. D’Angel then teamed up with dancehall lyricist Vybz Kartel on Baby Father, another major hit which became a huge dancehall anthem for the women.

D’Angel took her vivacity and energy to various stage shows locally and internationally. Her spicy lyrics and charismatic stage performances landed her numerous nominations and awards from then until now. In 2006 and 2007 she was nominated as one of the Female DJ of the year and was awarded Best Dressed Female Artiste in those same years. Despite the media hyped personal problems in mid 2007, D’Angel was able to reaffirm her place as a dancehall diva after the release of her hit single Blaze (Up and Live Riddim) produced by Arif Cooper for Fresh Ear Productions and the groundbreaking video which quickly rose to the top spot on all the video charts of all the local cable stations and was in heavy rotation on radio as well.

In early 2008, with the propelling success from Blaze, D’Angel boosted her presence in the music fraternity locally and internationally as she was a performer at the 27th IRAWMA Awards in New York and a nominee for Best Female Deejay. In addition to a plethora of singles claiming heavy rotation on the local airwaves including the singles: Caan Stall featuring Vybz Kartel, Lucky Charm, Whisper, Good Day, High Intensity, Hustling Ladies, Real Gangsta, Talk is Cheap, Don’t Hate, Naw Go Nuh Weh and the mega hit single Stronger, which went Number One on all major charts in Jamaica and was steady as one of the Top Five songs on the New York and Florida Top 30 Singles Charts. The video for ‘Stronger’ stopped no short of Number One status on all the video charts as well and easily became a household song that appeals to the women who have been through relationship problems similar to hers.

Armed with all the success from her single ‘Stronger’, D’Angel has added several accolades to her portfolio in latter parts of 2008 most of which includes; granted a Business Management scholarship from Caribbean Institute of Business; one of the most requested artiste on RE-TV’s School Tour; the STAR Featured Artiste for May; the recipient of the Digicel’s People’s Choice Award at the Style Observer Awards 2008; a guest appearance on Jamaica’s most watched soap opera: Royal Palm Estate; became the spokeswoman for Wray and Nephew’s product G-Force; motivational speaker at various Schools across Jamaica; a collaboration with international hip-hop artistes DJ Unk and Sean Kingston together; and awarded Stone Love’s Female Deejay of 2008. With all the multiple nominations at Youth View Awards, the proud recipient of the Singjay of the 2008 at the 2009 EME’s Awards, a performer and presenter at the 28th IRAWMA Awards in New York and was nominated for Best Female Deejay; she endorses many charity events and has appeared on several kids fashion pageants.

D’Angel continues to display that confidence and hard work will pay-off as she have been a member of the major schools and community tours namely; Coca-Cola, RE-TV and recently Irie FM Road Show. She represents Jamaica as an ambassador when she performs on major shows overseas and boasts proudly to be amongst the line up of other major shows here in Jamaica especially the prestigious Reggae Sumfest for two consecutive years now. The future looks bright for D’Angel because she’s one of the hottest Female Dancehall Artists and her growing demand as well.