Jerry Duplessis

Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis (born 9 August 1975) is a Haitian music producer, film score composer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. His first major success was as a producer for the Fugees' 1996 album The Score. He also played the bass guitar with the Fugees, and group member Wyclef Jean is his cousin.

Jerry Duplessis
Duplessis at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles California
Duplessis at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles California
Background information
Birth nameJerry Duplessis
Also known as
  • Wonda
  • Jerry Wonder
  • Ti Bass
Born (1975-08-09) August 9, 1975
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Instruments
Websitewww.wondamusic.com
Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis

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 Lauryn 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 performing onstage.

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 hip 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 the 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 Colombian singer to top Billboard's Hot 100 chart. They also co-wrote "My Love Is Your Love" for Whitney Houston's album of the same name.

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 "Ghetto Superstar" performed by Pras Michel, ODB and Mýa and "How Come" by Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour and rapper Canibus.

Alongside Wyclef and Andrea Guerra, Wonda wrote and produced the theme song "Million Voices" for the film Hotel Rwanda, which was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005. The same song was later nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.[1] Other film credits include The Manchurian Candidate, Dave Chappelle's Block Party and 50 First Dates.

In 2001, Wonda built Platinum Sound Recording Studios in Times Square, NYC.

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.

Since 2009

In 2009, Wonda began producing music on his own, founding a production company called Wonda Music and placing his first major record with teen sensation, Justin Bieber for "U Smile." He has since followed up several placements to include artists Mary J. Blige, Musiq Soulchild, Keri Hilson, Estelle, Busta Rhymes, Miguel and Lupe Fiasco. Wonda began signing artists, producers, and songwriters to his Wonda Music imprint.

Artists currently on the Wonda Music roster include Cokah, Famey, Viviane Ndour (Viviane), Alex Boyé, and Destiny Moriah. Producers include Arden 'Keyz' Altino, Klase '1st Klase' Gonzalez, 'Murk da Mic', Tiffani LeBlanc and Hardy Indigo.

Wonda also plays bass guitar as part of Melissa Etheridge's new touring band.

Producer and co-producer

Song title Artist Album Year
"I'm the One" DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Quavo & Chance the Rapper 2017
"League of My Own" Samantha J feat. Dej Loaf League of My Own 2015
"Come Over" Ne-Yo Nonfiction 2015
"Fool For You" Curtis Fields N/A 2015
"Come Around" Slightly Stoopid Meanwhile...Back at the Lab 2015
"Party Done" Machel Montano feat. Angela Hunte N/A 2015
"The Hustler" LL Cool J feat. Mavado GOAT 2 2014
"Lemonade" Alex Boye N/A 2014
"God I Get It" K. Michelle Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? 2014
"I Got U" Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones I Got U 2014
"Do It Again" Melissa Etheridge This Is M.E. 2014
"Monster"
"Soundboy Kill It" Raekwon feat. Melanie Fiona Fly International Luxurious Art (F.I.L.A) 2014
"Dance With Me" Tank Stronger 2014
"I Gotta Have It"
"Missing You"
"Thanking You"
"Automatic" Claudette Ortiz TBD 2014
"Bring Back The Music" Jennifer Hudson JHUD 2014
"Say It"
"Ready Aim" Mali Music Mali Is... 2014
"No Fun Alone"
"Beautiful"
"One"
"Make It"
"All About You" Raekwon feat. Estelle All About You (Single) 2013
"One Shot" Angela Hunte Reggae Gold 2013
"Wonderland" Keyshia Cole featuring Elijah Blake Woman to Woman 2012
"Blame" K'La featuring Nas TBD 2012
"Fade Away" Selah Sue Selah Sue 2012
"Make It Shake" Machel Montano featuring Busta Rhymes, Olivia, and Fatman Scoop Wonda Music 2012
"Do You..." Miguel Kaleidoscope Dream 2012
"Freedom Ride" Keri Hilson Think Like a Man (Soundtrack) 2012
"Soldier Girl ft. Mavado" Olivia Album Title TBD 2012
"Hurt Somebody ft. French Montana" Akon Stadium/Konkrete Jungle 2012
"Survivor ft. Mavado" Album Title TBD 2012
"The Woman You Love ft. Busta Rhymes" Ashanti Braveheart 2012
"Back to Love" Estelle All of Me 2012
"Wonderful Life"
"Thank You"
"Never Let Go ft. Keri Hilson" Anthony Hamilton Back to Love 2011
"Feel Inside ft. Nas" Mary J. Blige My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) 2011
"Don't Mind"
"Over Love"
"Someone to Love Me (Naked)" Mary J. Blige featuring Diddy & Lil Wayne
"Never Forget You" Lupe Fiasco featuring John Legend Lasers 2011
"Out of My Head" Lupe Fiasco featuring Trey Songz
"Rough Boy" Wyclef Jean ZZ Top – A Tribute From Friends 2011
"Anything" Musiq Soulchild featuring Swizz Beatz MusiqInTheMagiq 2011
"Say I Do" Musiq Soulchild
"Silver & Gold"
"Back to Where"
"Waiting Still"
"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 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" 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"
"My Swag" T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. 2008
"You Know What It Is"
"Coqui" Omarion Feel the Noise Soundtrack 2007
"I'm Coming Home" Lionel Richie Coming Home 2006
"I Apologize"
"Hips Don't Lie" Shakira Oral Fixation Vol. 2 2006
"Dangerous" Ying Yang Twins Chemically Imbalanced 2006
"Million Voices" Hotel Rwanda Hotel Rwanda Soundtrack 2004
Various Wyclef Jean Creole 101 2004
The Preacher's Son 2003
Tom Jones Mr. Jones 2003
Wyclef Jean Masquerade 2002
Jimmy Cozier Jimmy Cozier 2001
Loving You (Ole Ole Ole) Brian Harvey Solo 2001
Hit Them With It
Various City High City High 2001
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
"My Love is Your Love" Whitney Houston My Love is Your Love 1998
Various Pras Ghetto Supastar 1998
Canibus Can-I-Bus 1998
98 Degrees 98 Degrees and Rising 1998
Wyclef Jean The Carnival 1997
The Fugees The Score 1997

See also

References

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