Hailed
as “Ghana’s Bob Marley” by England’s
leading influential newspaper New Nation, Rocky
Dawuni burst on to the African reggae scene in 1996 with
his debut recording, The Movement. An
introspective journey into social and spiritual consciousness,
the album garnered immediate rave reviews, as well as two hit
singles, "Sugar" and "What Goes Around.”
The CD was also released in the U.S. to critical acclaim and glowing
praise. The Beat described this freshman effort as a "thoughtful,
spiritual and involved debut recording." Urb Magazine named
Rocky one of the "Next 100 People to
Watch in the Entertainment Industry.” Atlantic Records
subsidiary Mesa/Bluemoon Records licensed "What Goes Around"
and its video, climbed to #3 on the Reggae Video Charts, for domestic
release on Strictly Underground: Reggae's Next Generation.
The album’s intense media exposure transcended boundaries
setting the stage for the continent’s next international
music star.
Rocky's sophomore effort, Crusade
(1998), which he wrote, arranged and produced, was his quest to
promote love, justice and righteousness. “It's about hope
in the human spirit and allowing God to empower us to attain the
unattainable," he says. Crusade’s
first single and its arresting video, “In Ghana,”
a celebration of 40 years of Ghanaian independence, achieved international
hit status on both radio and TV. Putumayo World Music licensed
the song for Reggae Around the World,
which also included tracks by Lucky Dube and Burning Spear. Crusade
received rave U.S. reviews as well, including a four-and-a-half-star
review from Reggae Report and high praise from influential
Dub Missive, which touted, “from beginning to
end, it scores a direct hit.”
In mid-1999,
Rocky began his first U.S. summer festival tour
with a knockout performance at the Vermont Reggae Festival to
a capacity crowd of 35,000. He also made critically hailed appearances
at the UCLA Jazz/Reggae Festival and Sierra Nevada World Music
Festivals and the following year embarked on the Africa Roots
2000 Tour alongside the Ivory Coast’s Ishmael Isaac and
Senegal’s Positive Black Soul. With stops at NYC’s
SOB’s, the House of Blues in Boston, WOMAD USA in Seattle
and the prestigious Reggae on the River in Northern California
the outing established the artist as one of the premier live reggae
artists. Summer/Fall 2001 and 2002 saw him continue to trek through
the U. S., including performances at the prominent Bumbershoot
Festival in Seattle, WA, Reggae in the Park in San Francisco,
the one million fan strong Detroit World Music Festival and the
first annual Fairfax World Music Festival in Northern California.
 Rocky
released his third album Awakening
in Ghana in 2001, which continues the committed artist’s
quest for political and spiritual enlightenment. Rocky sees the
album as an urgent catalyst for African unity and the disc received
acclaim from West Africa Magazine, Billboard, Voice
of America and the BBC. "I'll Try," the first single
from the album won Rocky his second Ghana Music Award’s
Best Reggae Song of The Year in 2002, the first having
been bestowed to “In Ghana” in 2000. And, continuing
to break new ground on all artistic fronts, "I'll Try’s"
stunning music video was the first filmed on 35 mm format in Ghana.
The same
year, the first Rocky Dawuni's Independence Splash was
created in honor of Ghana's Independence Day. This highly anticipated
event is held now every year in Accra (Ghana’s capitol)
on March 6th and attracts thousands upon thousands of fans. Splash
2002’s live Ghana TV broadcast reached an estimated 10 million
viewers and Independence Splash 2004 & 2005 were produced
in conjunction with Alliance Francaise, the cultural arm of the
French government, at their beautiful outdoor amphitheatre in
Accra.
Immediately
after Splash 2004, Rocky opened for Stevie
Wonder at the International Conference Center in Accra.
Mr. Wonder in turn joined his new friend later that year, jamming
with him into the wee hours to a sold out crowd at Afro
Funké, Rocky’s weekly soirée
at L.A.’s hot spot Zanzibar, completely stunning the packed
audience.
In 2005,
Rocky was invited to be the musical personality
for the Reebok Humanitarian Awards where he was
joined in song by Peter Gabriel. Devoted as he
is to his West African roots, Dawuni was given
“Ghana’s Cultural Ambassador” award
that year by the US Embassy and the Bokoor Popular African Music
Foundation in a colorful ceremony held at the W.E. Du Bois Center
in Accra alongside legends of Ghanaian music. Rocky
continued to establish his U.S. presence and was nominated for
"Best World Music Artist 2005" by the influential
LA Weekly. The publication lauds Dawuni
as a "rising young star" with "engaging
stage presence" and notes Dawuni is
"primed to conquer America.”
Rocky’s
4th studio album Book of Changes, an
inspired showcase for his Afro Roots sound, artfully blends elements
of Afro Beat, Dub, Reggae, Hip Hop turntablism and traditional
African rhythms. After honing his unique stylings in powerful
live performances around the world, Rocky’s
songwriting and passionate vocals are well displayed in the disc’s
break-out tunes "Wake the Town" and "Shashamane."
In fact, “Wake the Town” received tremendous support
on National Public Radio's flagship station - KCRW 89.9
FM in Southern California, the UK’s BBC World Service
and France's Radio Nova.
Rocky
appeared on Showtime's smash hit series
"Weeds” performing "Jammin Nation"
in episode 2 of the Emmy winning show's 2nd season. “Jammin
Nation” was featured in another Showtime classic “Dexter.”
No stranger to TV, two tracks from Book of Changes
set the tone as NBC's "ER" traveled
to Africa and the show also highlighted Rocky's
rendition of "Knockin on Heaven's Door"
to massive response.
Rocky
premiered his Afro Roots sound at two
stellar showcases at the highly esteemed SXSW Music Conference
in Austin Texas in 2007. Rocky was then featured on Instant
Karma: The Amnesty Internation Campaign to Save Darfur
digital release on Warner Brother's Records doing a cover John
Lennon's classic "Well Well Well."
Other artists featured on the release included U2, Green Day,
REM and many more. www.instantkarma.org
“Rocky Dawuni’s Independence Splash 2007,”
which also promoted a “Clean Ghana,” was
held at La Pleasure Beach in Accra, Ghana. Drawing an estimated
40,000 people, global media and world leaders including World
Bank President, Paul Wolfowitz, the event featured 2006 MOBO Award
winner Batman Samini, griot sensation King Ayisoba and Hip life
star Tic Tac.
Africa
Live! in association with UNICEF and
the European Union presented the 8th annual “Rocky
Dawuni Independence Splash 2008” on March
6, 2008 at the 20,000-capacity Tamale Sports Stadium
where thousands of fans were dazzled by Dawuni and his 10-piece
band, ensuring the roots reggae musician a triumphant return to
his ancestral home land of Northern Ghana. The 8th annual event
(and the first ever live concert at this venue) also featured
Northern Ghanaian stars Sheriff Gale, Abu Saadiq, Mama Rams and
Sirina Issah who all put on outstanding performances.
Africa Live! is a non-profit organization created
by Dawuni whose mission is to preserve, restore,
and reinvigorate the Ghanaian music scene, creating public and
industry awareness for its rich history and value, and commercial
opportunities for artists and the community. Through Africa
Live! Dawuni plans to promote music education and appreciation
in schools, provide artists with access to instruments, venues
and professional production assistance, and further appreciation
and demand for traditional West African music throughout the world.
As part of Rocky’s ongoing work with UNICEF
on their Clean Water and Sanitation program, and to raise
awareness about Guinea Worm infestation, Africa Live!
decided to move the event from the capital of Accra to
the Northern Region where these issues can directly be confronted.
Dawuni’s extensive trips throughout the
Northern Region have helped shed light on these acute problems
and spur practical and sustainable solutions reflective of his
ongoing quest to use music as a tool for social development. One
of these trips resulted in Rocky Dawuni and Batman
Samini collaborating on the song “Clean
Water”
for UNICEF’s World Water Day.
After 8 successful years in Ghana, West Africa the 9th annual
“Independence Splash” concert moved
to Los Angeles on March 5, 2009 to commemorate the election of
the first African American President to the United States, and
its impact on social and political independence worldwide. Rocky
Dawuni & The Revelation Project were in absolute
rare form for the capacity crowd of revelers at Afro Funke’!
Joining them on stage were special guests Leon Mobley
(Ben Harper) who brought the house to a frenzy with his
spirited drumming as well as Jazz legend, Ronnie Laws,
who grabbed a saxophone to lend his talent to an unbelievable
rendition of Rocky's "Afro Roots Vibration."
Rocky is also the co-founder of Los Angeles’ world renown
Thursday night club, Afro Funke’, with
partners Cary Sullivan and Jeremy Sole,
which has been the premier African based night in Los Angeles
for over 6years. Afro Funke’ is frequented by an extremely
diverse clientele of all ethnicities and ages who are drawn to
the incredible music and ambiance of the night. Rocky’s
presence there also draws a cross section of celebrities who enjoy
soaking in the vibes with him including Prince, India.Arie,
Stevie Wonder, Reverend Michael Beckwith (The Secret)
and many more.
Rocky recently finished his 5th studio album titled “Hymns
for the Rebel Soul” which has just been pre-released
exclusively through Whole Foods Market in October
2009. The first track of the album "Download the
Revelotuion" has already been licensed by EA
for their FIFA 2010 video game. Rocky recently
signed a co-publishing and administration deal with Lion’s
Gate Music which should insure even more exposure for
his music worldwide through film, television and commercials.
When not touring the world playing on some of the largest festival
stages, Rocky is involved with UNICEF, Product (RED),
The Carter Center and The Global Fund and other pro-active
humanitarian, social and environmental organizations- in his belief
and commitment to create positive and sustainable change. Rocky’s
has two tracks on the incredibly popular “Playing
for Change: Songs Around the World” album including
a cover of “War” by Bob Marley which features him
and Bono. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgWFxFg7-GU
What’s
up next for Africa’s Shining Star Rocky
Dawuni? Stay tuned…
www.myspace.com/rockydawunimusic
www.twitter.com/rockydawuni
www.itunes.com
Check out Rocky on Current TV!
www.currenttv.com
Check out
Rocky live on Chocolate City
on KCRW!
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