Exco Levi

Wayne Ford Levy (born c.1981),[1] known by his stage name Exco Levi, is a Brampton-based, Jamaican-Canadian reggae musician.[2][3][4] Levi has won five Juno Awards.[5]

Exco Levi
Exco Levi photographed in Montréal , Québec, Canada in La Sala Rossa.
Background information
Birth nameWayne Ford Levy
Bornc.1981
Harmons, Jamaica
GenresReggae
Years active2007–present
LabelsVP, Penthouse, High Priest
Websitewww.excolevimusic.com

Career

Born in Harmons in Manchester Parish, Jamaica, Levi's early singing experience came from the school choir.[1] His father, Michael 'Mr Cool' Levy worked as a selector on the Super Soul sound system in Clarendon.[6] He moved to Canada in 2005, and started his recording career in 2007, releasing the single "O' Canada" that year.[7] His 'Exco' stage name is a reference to his football idol, Andrés Escobar.[7]

Levi was introduced to producer Donovan Germain by Richie Stephens, and the two began working together.[4] His track "Bleaching Shop", recorded with Germain, won the Juno Award for Reggae Recording of the Year in 2012.[8] He also won Junos for "Storms of Life" (2013), and "Strive" (2014).[9] He has also worked with German producers Silly Walks.[4]

In December 2014 he performed at Sting, and in January 2015 he was on the bill of Rebel Salute.[4] In March 2015 he released his second album, Country Man.[10] He won a fourth Juno Award for 2015's "Welcome the King".[4][11]

In 2016, Levi was living and maintaining a studio in Brampton, Ontario, while also working at times in Jamaica. That year he was inducted into the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame.[7]

In 2017, Levi won a fifth Juno Award for his reggae song "Siren".[5][12] In November 2017, Levi released his third album, Narrative, featuring guest contributions from Raging Fyah and Sizzla.[2]

In 2019, Levi was nominated for a Juno Award for the seventh time in eight years for his Narrative album[13] which was produced by Silly Walks from Germany.

In 2020, the song "Wah Gwaan" earned Levi his eighth Juno nomination.[14]

Most recently Levi received his ninth Juno Award nomination[15] in 2022, for the song "By Any Means".

Discography

Albums
  • Words of the Wise EP (2014), VP
  • Country Man (2015), High Priest/Penthouse
  • Narrative (2017), Silly Walks Discotheque
  • Black Creek EP (2021), High Priest

References
  1. Krewen, Nick (2017) "Local reggae king Exco Levi busy uplifting and uniting", Toronto Star, August 5, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017. (Aged 36 in August 2017)
  2. Patrick, Ryan B. (2017) "Exco Levi, Canada's Most Acclaimed Reggae Artist, Faces an Uphill Climb", Exclaim!, December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017
  3. Heinrich, Jeff (August 20, 2011). "Rulers of reggae have global message: Third World aims to 'give an insight into what is taking place in the world'", The Gazette, p. E3.
  4. "Exco Levi — sticking to his roots", Jamaica Observer, 6 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015
  5. "Gord Downie wins three Junos at music awards gala dinner Saturday night". London Free Press, Lynn Saxberg and Peter Hum. April 1, 2017
  6. Campbell, Howard (2012) "Bleaching Shop scores for Exco Levi", Jamaica Observer, March 4, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2017
  7. Panjwani, Radhika ""Canada’s high priest of reggae Exco Levi finds a spot in Brampton’s Walk of Fame"", Brampton Guardian, September 19, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2017
  8. Sterdan, Darryl (March 31, 2012). "Underdogs have their day at Juno Gala", Jam!. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  9. "Exco Levi strives for Juno triple", Jamaica Observer, 12 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014
  10. Patrick, Ryan B. (2015) "Exco Levi Country Man", Exclaim!, March 17, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2017
  11. Johnson, Richard (2015) "Another Juno for Exco", Jamaica Observer, 16 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015
  12. Jackson, Kevin (2017) "Juno number five for Exco Levi", Jamaica Observer, 3 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017
  13. "Juno Nominee Interview: Exco Levi".
  14. "Exco Levi". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
  15. "And the Nominees Are." The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
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