Duane Stephenson

    Duane Stephenson Works for A Better Tomorrow

    Duane Stephenson Works for A Better Tomorrow

    by Justine Amadori Ketola

    04/18/2011

    Duane Stephenson is a rarity in music.  He has the songwriter's innate ability to formulate a storyline, a concept that takes flight, asking questions, studying the outcomes, weighing the reality, inviting the listener to join him on this truth telling story and journey.  A man whose career is devoid of hype and controversy, his understanding of the world and his livity come across through his songs in an honest, wholesome way.  He often peppers his conversation by leading with "the truth is" which serves to emphasize this honesty.

     

    He is aided by a most powerful singing voice and range, one that produces melodies that are not predictable, but that are in a class by themselves.  His songwriting has been enlisted by artists such as Tarrus Riley, Luciano and notably with Jah Cure.  His work with the Rehabilitation Through Music program in the Jamaican prison system resulted in Jah Cure's "True Reflections" which became the theme song for the program.

     

    Duane's mission is positive, showing the way toward hope in action.  And as "Nah Play" the lead track from his second album, Black Gold states: "Let's sing some more songs of inspiration, that the people them want, a them a wait 'pon."  He makes the case for hope throughout the following interview, given while he on tour in the U.S. as a special guest with the legendary Wailers, led by Aston "Family Man" Barrett.  "Nah Play" uses a Black American idiom, "play" to say, 'if you look into the eyes of them yout' here dem nah play.'  As in, this is a serious time, gun violence, especially by teens and early twenty-something males in Jamaica is real, and as a man who walks these streets on the regular, living his days while not on the road, in his native August Town area of Kingston, his commentary serves as that of the griot, one who sees the true meaning of this reality and his responsibility to help shape the future.

     

    Duane co-wrote “A Step for Mankind” with Boltar Solomon aka Mystic Routes and produced with the Wailers to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme. The track has become the anthem for global hunger eradication and is featured on Oniric Records' Solutions for Dreamers: Season 3 which directly benefits the World Food Programme.  The song is a call to action for everyone to stand up against hunger and truly help mankind take a step in the right direction.  His work with the WFP continues through advocacy,  awareness and outreach on the WFP fund-raising social media site WeFeedback.org and as part of live concert performances with the Wailers, where funds that are gathered benefit World Food Programme efforts in Ethiopia.

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    Duane Stephenson