Jerry Duplessis


Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis is a Haitian record producer and musician. His first major success came as the producer of the Fugees' 1996 album The Score. He served as the bass guitarist for the group and is the cousin of Wyclef Jean, with whom he has collaborated on multiple projects.

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 musicians 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 musician 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 Records. Label mates at the time would include Cypress Hill and Kris Kross.

Career

Jerry Wonda/Wyclef Jean years

Jerry Wonda and Wyclef Jean's producing took 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 became one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time gaining worldwide recognition.
Wonda and Wyclef made 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 Billboards Hot 100 chart. They also co-wrote "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 "Ghetto Superstar" performed by Pras Michel, ODB and Mýa and "How Come" by Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour and rapper Canibus.
Alongside Wyclef and Andrea Guerra, Wonda wrote and produced the theme song "Million Voices" for the film 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, New York City.

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.

Producer and co-producer

Song titleArtistAlbumYear
"Real Woman"Monique The Star feat. Capella GreySoft Girl Era2024
"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
"Soundboy Kill It"; "All About You"Raekwon feat. Melanie Fiona; EstelleFly International Luxurious Art 2015
"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"; "Monster"Melissa EtheridgeThis Is M.E.2014
"Dance With Me"; "Thanking You"; "I Gotta Have It"; "Missing You"TankStronger2014
"Automatic"Claudette OrtizTBD2014
"Bring Back the Music"; "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
"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"Olivia feat. MavadoTBD2012
"Hurt Somebody"; "Survivor"Akon ft. French Montana; MavadoStadium/Konkrete Jungle2012
"The Woman You Love"Ashanti featuring Busta RhymesBraveheart2012
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"Back to Love"; "Thank You"; "Wonderful Life"EstelleAll of Me2012
"Never Let Go"Anthony HamiltonBack to Love2011
"Feel Inside"; "Someone to Love Me "; "Don't Mind"; "Over Love"Mary J. Blige featuring Nas; Lil WayneMy Life II... The Journey Continues 2011
"Out of My Head"; "Never Forget You"Lupe Fiasco featuring Trey Songz; John LegendLasers2011
"Rough Boy"Wyclef JeanZZ Top – A Tribute From Friends2011
"Anything"; "Say I Do"; "Silver & Gold"; "Back to Where"; "Waiting Still"Musiq SoulchildMusiqInTheMagiq2011
"Southern Hospitality"Hal LintonTBD2010
"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"; "Dollar Sign"Gucci ManeThe Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted2010
"Bedtime Story"Buju BantonRasta Got Soul2010
"Ballin"Haitian FreshNBA Live 20102010
"Ice Cream Girl"Sean KingstonTomorrow2010
"Spanish Fly"AventuraThe Last2009
"Spy"ShakiraShe Wolf2009
"You Think You Got It Bad"; "Wild Wild Wild"Lyfe JenningsLyfe Change2008
"Rollout"LabelleBack to Now2008
"No Substitute Love"; "So Much Out the Way"EstelleShine2008
VariousWyclef JeanCarnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant2007
"You Know What It Is"; "My Swag"T.I.T.I. vs. T.I.P.2007
"Coqui"OmarionFeel the Noise Soundtrack2007
"I'm Coming Home"; "I Apologize"Lionel RichieComing Home2006
"Hips Don't Lie"ShakiraOral Fixation Vol. 22006
"Dangerous"Ying Yang TwinsChemically Imbalanced2006
"Million Voices"Hotel Rwanda ChoirHotel Rwanda Soundtrack2004
VariousWyclef JeanCreole 1012004
VariousWyclef JeanThe Preacher's Son2003
VariousTom JonesMr. Jones2003
"Since Supernatural"SantanaShaman2002
VariousWyclef JeanMasquerade2002
VariousJimmy CozierJimmy Cozier2001
Loving You Brian HarveySolo2001
VariousCity HighCity High2001
VariousWyclef JeanThe Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book2000
"Dancing Lessons"Sinéad O'ConnorFaith and Courage2000
"Rap Song"Black Eyed PeasBridging the Gap2000
"Lie Detector"; "Pussy Cat"MyaFear of Flying2000
"Maria Maria"SantanaSupernatural1999
"Loving Your Best Friend"Eric BenetA Day in the Life1999
"Never Again"Tevin CampbellTevin Campbell1999
"No No No Part II"Destiny's ChildThe Writing's on the Wall1999
"My Love is Your Love"Whitney HoustonMy Love is Your Love1998
VariousPrasGhetto Supastar1998
VariousCanibusCan-I-Bus1998
"Fly With Me"98 Degrees98 Degrees and Rising1998
VariousWyclef JeanThe Carnival1997
VariousThe FugeesThe Score1996