WAYNE WONDER TAKES HIS MUSICAL HISTORY TO THE “TD IRIE MUSIC FESTIVAL” JULY 20 IN OSHAWA, CANADA!

Wayne Wonder is one of the headliners for the TD IRIE Music Festival that is taking place this weekend at Memorial Park in the city.

Performer Wayne Wonder says he plans to bring all he has to his show at Oshawa’s Memorial Park during the TD IRIE Music Festival.

Taking place this weekend on July 20 and 21, Wonder is the headliner for the show and is known for his reggae dancehall style that has been making hits since the late ‘80s.

“I’m going to do my best to bring my best to them,” he says of those who attend the local festival. “I am going to bring it.”

Born Von Wayne Charles in Buff Bay, Portland, Jamaica, Wonder was inspired by music at a young age when he attended Sunday school. His mother also sang in church.

According to his website, www.waynewonder.com, as a child Wonder and his family moved all over Kingston, living in areas such as Dunkirk, Franklin Town and Rae Town, home of the weekly Sunday night Reggae/R&B oldies street dance.

It was this exposure that heightened Wonder’s interest in the music industry.

“I gravitated towards it,” he says.

Throughout his formative years Wonder sang at school, at home, at church and for his friends. Wherever he sang, he was encouraged to pursue his craft professionally, his website reads.

Recording his first record at 16, Wonder says he has been privileged to work with many notable artists and producers throughout his career – one who was instrumental in his career was King Tubby.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” he states. “I performed on Saturday Night Live, that’s every musicians dream. I’ve toured the world.”

Through his cover version of British musician Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up,” he gained the public’s attention.

In 2002, Wonder earned the first number one hit of his career with No Letting Go recorded with Steve “Lenky” Marsden, Tony Kelly and Sly Dunbar. According to a release from IRIE Festival organizers he also anchored the hit track for the Def Jamaica compilation, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album. Most recently he has released an album called My Way.

It has been a whirlwind for the artist, who currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his wife and children. He tries to venture home when he can to Jamaica.

“I still keep my roots,” he says, adding he’s looking forward to his trip to Canada to perform. “Canada is like my second home.”

Wonder is one of many artists slated to wow the crowd during the festival.

The IRIE Music Festival added Oshawa to its list of venues as a way to expose festival goers to culturally diverse artists and celebrate the African-Canadian culture. Known as a world-class event, the two-day showcase will feature reggae, world music genres including Latin and African, gospel music and dance performances.

With an average of 100,000 people and growing, the festival typically takes place in Toronto and Mississauga. It will return to Mississauga’s Celebration Square on July 13 and 14, culminating with the original TD IRIE Music Festival in downtown Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square on August 2 through to Monday, August 5.

Adding Oshawa as the third location makes it a truly GTA-wide experience, states a release.

For more information about the festival, visit www.iriemusicfestival.com