ABDEL WRIGHT

Photo by Diane 'Livonn' Adam

"The most important Jamaican artist since Marley," is how Bono of rock group U2 describes Abdel – the newest Jamaican musician signed to a major label and the most 'unknown' Jamaican ever to make it to the forefront of international attention. Abdel's music is not dance hall, but strictly roots with a modern flava that returns to the cultural origins of reggae as social commentary and spiritual inspiration with sensitive lyrics and guitar-led rhythms.
Though his name is known only to a few music insiders and friends, Abdel has been making his special brand of reggae music for 16 years, producing social commentary lyrics which he accompanies on his guitar, piano, flute, harmonica and drums. A 13 track album produced by Brian Jobson was heard by Dave Stewart, who was impressed enough to act as executive producer for the album. The result was an instant signing to a record deal with Interscope Records -- a division of UMG Music Worldwide -- and an engagement to record a song to be performed at the Mandela AIDS Concert in Cape Town, South Africa on November 29, 2003.

From total anonymity, Abdel's signing took him in a few short weeks on his first trip outside Jamaica to New York recording sessions for the Mandela Concert and album, with such international stars as Dave Stewart, Bono, Beyonce, Britney Spears, JayZ and 50 Cent, and celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Shriver. Abdel is honored and happy that his brand of music will be Jamaica's contribution to the important event.

Tall, thin Abdel Wright was born 27 years ago in Trinityville, St. Thomas. His single parent mother was diagnosed with mental illness and he was taken as an infant to live at several Government children's homes before ending up at SOS Children's Village – a foster home in Stony Hill run by an Austrian charitable foundation and heavily sponsored by the late singer Johnny Cash. Cash owned a villa in Montego Bay and when Abdel was moved to the SOS Children's Village in that city, he came in contact with the celebrated singer who often visited the home, playing his songs and accompanying himself on the guitar. For the fatherless Abdel, Johnny Cash was his role model. "I always wanted to be like Johnny Cash," he admits with a smile.

Sharing his skills with anyone who cared to learn, whether for pay or not, Abdel not only earned small sums to support himself, but also endeared himself to a generation of young would-be musical artists. In addition to teaching himself to play the guitar, Abdel also taught himself the lute, piano, and harmonica, and spent five years teaching himself now-fluent Spanish "… because I wanted to write for a wider audience," he explains.

Vibrating with energy, Abdel's personality is warm and outgoing. The hard life he has lived has only served to make him stronger, and his happiness at his successful 'break' has increased his positive vibrations. Caring and benevolent to his friends, Abdel's first action on receiving his contract signing fee was to made generous gifts to several artist friends still struggling in the same conditions he endured, and a major donation to the SOS Children's villages.

A recent participant in the 10-day Caribbean Music Expo/UNESCO Artists In Development Workshop, at which 25 of the Caribbean's upcoming musical artists received lectures and demonstrations on management, marketing and presentation, Abdel says he is preparing himself to handle the demands of international performing and recording.

Plans for Abdel by his music company include a 2004 tour as opening act for a major international star, as well as collaborating on an album with U2's Bono. With the attention and admiration of such major music stars, Abdel will not remain an 'unknown' for much longer.

Abdel Wright Links:

• Abdel Wright Web Site