These are busy times for Wayne Wonder. Over 30 years since he scored his first hit single, the singer is still on the hunt for chart success with a flurry of new releases.
His latest songs are collaborations: ‘Tun Up’ is done with DJ Kumaar, ‘The One’ (with DJ Norie and Shaggy) ‘Ruba Dub’ (with Supriz) and ‘Celebration Time’ with Charly Black. “Wi jus’ doing the do, bro, di music is global an’ di people appreciate it,” said the wiry vocalist.
Wonder’s initial hit songs, which came during the late 1980s, were covers of American pop singles like PM Dawn’s ‘Die Without You’ and Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’. In the 1990s, he enjoyed a sustained chart run working with producers Donovan Germain and Dave Kelly, with songs such as ‘Baby You And I’, ‘Saddest Day of My Life’ and ‘Joyride’.
His biggest hit, ‘No Letting Go’, came out in 2002 and has been certified gold (for sales of 500,000) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In July, Wayne Wonder heads to Japan for seven shows in Okinawa, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Chiba and Fukuoka. He describes that Asian as one of the biggest markets for his music.
“My Japanese support is there; I have faithful supporters over di years. Wi blessed with dat, so wi give thanks fi dat,” he said.
