Jerry Duplessis


Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis is a Haitian musical composer and record producer. 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.

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 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 cowrote 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 Wonda's "Ghetto Superstar " performed by Pras Michel, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa and "How Come" by Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour & Canibus.
Alongside Wyclef and Andrea Guerra, Wonda wrote and produced the theme song "Million Voices" for the movie Hotel Rwanda, which was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005. The same song was later nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006. 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 Famey, Viviane Ndour, Alex Boyé, and Destiny Moriah. Producers include Arden 'Keyz' Altino, Klase '1st Klase' Gonzalez, 'Murk da Mic', and Hardy Indigo.
Wonda also plays bass guitar as part of Melissa Etheridge's new touring band.

Producer and co-producer

Song titleArtistAlbumYear
"I'm the One"DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Quavo & Chance the Rapper2017
"League of My Own"Samantha J feat. Dej LoafLeague of My Own2015
"Come Over"Ne-YoNonfiction2015
"Fool For You"Curtis FieldsN/A2015
"Come Around"Slightly StoopidMeanwhile...Back at the Lab2015
"Party Done"Machel Montano feat. Angela HunteN/A2015
"The Hustler"LL Cool J feat. MavadoGOAT 22014
"Lemonade"Alex BoyeN/A2014
"God I Get It"K. MichelleAnybody Wanna Buy a Heart?2014
"I Got U"Duke Dumont feat. Jax JonesI Got U2014
"Do It Again"Melissa EtheridgeThis Is M.E.2014
"Monster"Melissa EtheridgeThis Is M.E.2014
"Soundboy Kill It"Raekwon feat. Melanie FionaFly International Luxurious Art 2014
"Dance With Me"TankStronger2014
"I Gotta Have It"TankStronger2014
"Missing You"TankStronger2014
"Thanking You"TankStronger2014
"Automatic"Claudette OrtizTBD2014
"Bring Back The Music"Jennifer HudsonJHUD2014
"Say It"Jennifer HudsonJHUD2014
"Ready Aim"Mali MusicMali Is...2014
"No Fun Alone"Mali MusicMali Is...2014
"Beautiful"Mali MusicMali Is...2014
"One"Mali MusicMali Is...2014
"Make It"Mali MusicMali Is...2014
"All About You"Raekwon feat. EstelleAll About You 2013
"One Shot"Angela HunteReggae Gold2013
"Wonderland"Keyshia Cole featuring Elijah BlakeWoman to Woman2012
"Blame"K'La featuring NasTBD2012
"Fade Away"Selah SueSelah Sue2012
"Make It Shake"Machel Montano featuring Busta Rhymes, Olivia, and Fatman ScoopWonda Music2012
"Do You..."MiguelKaleidoscope Dream2012
"Freedom Ride"Keri HilsonThink Like a Man 2012
"Soldier Girl ft. Mavado"OliviaAlbum Title TBD2012
"Hurt Somebody ft. French Montana"AkonStadium/Konkrete Jungle2012
"Survivor ft. Mavado"AkonAlbum Title TBD2012
"The Woman You Love ft. Busta Rhymes"AshantiBraveheart2012
"Back to Love"EstelleAll of Me2012
"Wonderful Life"EstelleAll of Me2012
"Thank You"EstelleAll of Me2012
"Never Let Go ft. Keri Hilson"Anthony HamiltonBack to Love2011
"Feel Inside ft. Nas"Mary J. BligeMy Life II... The Journey Continues 2011
"Don't Mind"Mary J. BligeMy Life II... The Journey Continues 2011
"Over Love"Mary J. BligeMy Life II... The Journey Continues 2011
"Someone to Love Me "Mary J. Blige featuring Diddy & Lil WayneMy Life II... The Journey Continues 2011
"Never Forget You"Lupe Fiasco featuring John LegendLasers2011
"Out of My Head"Lupe Fiasco featuring Trey SongzLasers2011
"Rough Boy"Wyclef JeanZZ Top – A Tribute From Friends2011
"Anything"Musiq Soulchild featuring Swizz BeatzMusiqInTheMagiq2011
"Say I Do"Musiq SoulchildMusiqInTheMagiq2011
"Silver & Gold"Musiq SoulchildMusiqInTheMagiq2011
"Back to Where"Musiq SoulchildMusiqInTheMagiq2011
"Waiting Still"Musiq SoulchildMusiqInTheMagiq2011
"Southern Hospitality"Hal Linton2010
"All the Boys"Keri HilsonNo Boys Allowed2010
"U Smile"Justin BieberMy World 2.02010
"You've Got a Friend"Ron Isley featuring Aretha FranklinMr. I2010
"Someone to Love Me"Diddy Dirty MoneyLast Train to Paris2010
"Grown Man"Gucci Mane featuring Estelle'2010
"Dollar Sign"Gucci Mane'2010
"Ice Cream Girl"Sean Kingston2010
"Bedtime Story"Buju BantonRasta Got Soul2010
"Ballin"Haitian Fresh featuring WyclefNBA Live 20102010
"Spanish Fly"AventuraThe Last2009
"Spy"ShakiraShe Wolf2009
"You Think You Got It Bad"Lyfe JenningsLyfe Change2008
"Wild Wild Wild"Lyfe JenningsLyfe Change2008
VariousWyclef Jean'2008
"Rollout"LabelleBack To Now2008
"So Much Out the Way"EstelleShine2008
"No Substitute Love"EstelleShine2008
"My Swag"T.I.T.I. vs. T.I.P.2008
"You Know What It Is"T.I.T.I. vs. T.I.P.2008
"Coqui"OmarionFeel the Noise Soundtrack2007
"I'm Coming Home"Lionel RichieComing Home2006
"I Apologize"Lionel RichieComing Home2006
"Hips Don't Lie"ShakiraOral Fixation Vol. 22006
"Dangerous"Ying Yang TwinsChemically Imbalanced2006
"Million Voices"Hotel RwandaHotel Rwanda Soundtrack2004
VariousWyclef JeanCreole 1012004
VariousWyclef JeanThe Preacher's Son2003
VariousTom JonesMr. Jones2003
VariousWyclef JeanMasquerade2002
VariousJimmy CozierJimmy Cozier2001
Loving You Brian HarveySolo2001
Hit Them With ItBrian HarveySolo2001
VariousCity HighCity High2001
VariousWyclef Jean'2000
"Loving Your Best"Eric BenetA Day in the Life1999
VariousDestiny's ChildThe Writing's on the Wall1999
"My Love is Your Love"Whitney HoustonMy Love is Your Love1998
VariousPrasGhetto Supastar1998
VariousCanibusCan-I-Bus1998
Various98 Degrees98 Degrees and Rising1998
VariousWyclef JeanThe Carnival1997
VariousThe FugeesThe Score1997