Wayne Wonder, born Von Wayne Charles in Jamaica, began his career rooted in dancehall and reggae but later expanded into hip-hop and rap with albums like Schizophrenic and Da Vibe. Wonder’s global breakthrough came in 2003 with the album No Holding Back and the hit single “No Letting Go,” which were released with VP Records.
Wonder, who grew up in Franklin Town, Jamaica, started singing at a young age, influenced by his mother who sang in a church choir. He wrote his first songs at 13 and began performing regularly at Metro Media in Allman Town, catching the attention of Sly Dunbar but not securing a contract due to Dunbar’s commitments. A pivotal moment in Wonder’s career was meeting producer King Tubby, under whose direction he recorded his first single, “Long and Lasting Love,” in 1985.
Wonder’s career initially faltered after Tubby’s death and unsuccessful singles, but regained momentum through his collaboration with school friend and recording engineer Dave Kelly, producing hits like “Saddest Day” and “Searching Dem Searching.” He played a key role in Buju Banton’s early success, contributing to hits like “Murderer” and “Boom Bye Bye,” and later collaborated with artists such as J’son from Soul for Real, Foxy Brown, and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes from TLC. He also at one point formed the band Alias, where he performed under the name Surprise.