Jerry Wonda Duplessis is one of the most successful and musically-adept producers to emerge from the hiphop era since the 1990s. With an illustrious career that spans over 30 years, he is renowned for his extensive discography that includes producing, songwriting, performing and composing. Outside of the studio, he is known for his philanthropy and charity work.
Born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, Wonda was heavily influenced by the music of Bob Marley and Quincy Jones. He picked up a bass guitar at the age of 14 and immediately knew he had found his calling. He also taught himself to play the guitar, congas, and drums.
Wonda is all about the sonic – finding and perfecting the sound of the effect in a song. His passion for the sonic helped to forge his reputation for creating the right sound for every artist he works with. His strong musical foundation paved the way for his illustrious career across every facet of the music industry.
Wonda’s greatest achievements include his work with The Fugees, who struck platinum in 1996 with their album The Score, which went on to become one of the best-selling hiphop albums of all time. The Score earned three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Vocal Performance, Best Rap Album, and Album of the Year. In 1999, Wonda co-produced Supernatural, musical icon Carlos Santana’s masterpiece. The album sold over 15 million copies and was nominated for 8 Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for ‘Maria Maria’, which held the number one position in the charts for over 10 weeks.
In 2001, he established Platinum Sound Recording Studios in Times Square, New York City – right in the creative and cultural heart of the city. He began the next phase of his career with the launch of Wonda Music, a new production company that is all about the sonic. It was established as a creative commune in which artists, songwriters and producers flow freely through each room, sharing melodies, lyrics and ideas. Everyone who walks through the doors of Wonda Music shares a common goal – to create the right sonic for the project they are working on. Admired for his passion and natural ability to bring a range of elements together to create a smash hit, Wonda Music continues to attract top artists from around the world, as well as fresh new talent, to carry on his musical legacy.
When he’s not hard at work in the studio, he travels all around the world absorbing local cultures and creative styles, adding their influence to his ever-expanding musical repertoire. He also plays bass guitar as part of Melissa Etheridge’s touring band.
As a producer, Wonda is truly one of the greats. His productions have launched careers and created legacies all over the world. Wonda is all about the sonic – the sound of the effects within a song. Every beat he makes is specially tailored to the vibe of the artist. He places utmost importance on finding and perfecting the sonic. His passion, dedication, and energy ensures nothing but the highest possible standard of recording, driving him to create international smash hits.
Wonda boasts a publishing catalogue of more than 300 titles, with a diverse range of records in the genres of hip hop, R&B, pop, rock, reggae and soul. With over 200 million copies sold, he has garnered over 15 Grammy nominations, and won 3 Grammy Awards, including multi-platinum offerings for musical icons Michael Jackson, Black Eyed Peas, Bono, Quincy Jones, Alicia Keys, Mick Jagger, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, Tom Jones, and Shakira.