Rocky Dawuni
Rocky Dawuni | |
|---|---|
 Rocky Dawuni | |
| Background information | |
| Born | January 22, 1969 |
| Origin | Ghana |
| Occupation(s) | Musician and Activist |
| Website | www |
Rocky Dawuni(born 22 January 1969)[1]is aGhanaiansinger, a three-timeGrammy-nominee,[2]songwriter and record producer who performs his signature 'Afro Roots'sound which is a mixture ofReggae,Afrobeats,HighlifeandSoulmusic. He currently lives between Ghana and Los Angeles.[3]Rocky is a three-time Grammy nominated musician and activist.
Music career
[edit]Dawuni got acquainted with Reggae in Ghana when he heard a military band performing one ofBob Marley's compositions in Michel Camp;[4]amilitary barrackswhere he grew up.[3]Dawuni started the annual "Independence Splash" festival, which is held in Ghana onGhanaian Independence Day,March 6.[3]
Dawuni has recorded eight full-length albums.[3]His sixth studio album titledBranches of The Same Treewas nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Reggae Albumin December 2015 for the58th Annual Grammy Awards,[5]released 31 March 2015 making him the first nominee from his home country of Ghana.[6]Songlines Magazine named the Branches of Same Tree album in the top 10 most essential reggae albums of all time.[7]Inspired by the soulful beats of Fela Kuti and Bob Marley, the album highlighted Dawuni's ability to communicate uplifting messages to the hear of millions.[8]
Beats of Zion,the 2019 single by Rocky, which was released January 25[9]is a precursor to his 7th studio album which also bears the same title and featured Ghana's dancehall star, [Stonebwoy].[10][11][12][13]The last video for the albums is "Champion Arise", which was named "Top Tune of the Day" on premier National Public Radio Station KCRW.[14][15]
In June 2019 Rocky released the new single "Modern Man", remixed byGaudi.His 8th studio release,Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1was nominated during theGrammy Award for Best Global Music Albumin the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, making Rocky a multi-Grammy nominee in 2022. Three music videos were released for the EP including "Ghost Town",[16]which was shot by photographer Casey Bridges (son of actorBeau Bridges). The music video "Beautiful People" from the album was shot in Rocky's home village of Bunbon by Ghanaian cinematographer, Slingshot.
Rocky released the music video forWoara(which translates as "you or it's you" inTwi) in September 2021. It was sung in the localAkandialect, Twi.Woarais a love song with a call and response style to express the beauty and triumph of being in love.[17]
In 2022, Dawuni got his third Grammy nomination, thus theBest Global Music Performancefor his work “Neva Bow Down” featuring Blvk H3ro. He has had two previous nominations in 2015 and 2021.[18][19]
Activism and Goodwill
[edit]The musician and activist who is known to straddle the boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create sounds that unite generations and cultures works to foster global peace. Dawuni has shared the stage withStevie Wonder,Peter Gabriel,Bono,Jason Mraz,Janelle MonáeandJohn Legend,among many others. Named one of Africa's Top 10 global stars byCNN.[20]
Dawuni's stature as a cultural diplomat and successful melding of music and activism have led him to become a spokesperson for various global causes. He is aUnited NationsGoodwill Ambassadorfor Africa for UN Environment[21]and is a Global Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance alongside actressJulia Robertsand ChefJosé Andrés.[22][23]
Rocky was named the Global Ambassador for theWorld Day of African and Afrodescendant Culturerecognized byUNESCO,through which he uses his music to shine a light on crucial issues facing humanity across the globe.
| Event Name | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Adinkra International Arts & Crafts Festival (GEPA) 2024 | Brand Ambassador, Speaker & Performer | 2024 |
| African Youth Conference, Accra, Ghana | Speaker | 2024 |
| United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA), Nairobi, Kenya | Speaker/Performer | 2024 |
| COP28 Dubai, UAE | Speaker & Performer | 2023 |
| Accra Reparations Conference 2023 | Performer | 2023 |
| Swiss Embassy Recycling & Upcycling Event, Accra, Ghana 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| Italian Embassy IRENA Action for Climate Event, Accra, Ghana 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| AMCEN Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| World Environment Day, Abidjan, Cote’Ivoire 2023 | Performer / Panelist | 2023 |
| International Concert Against Racism, Salvador Bahia, Brazil 2023 | Performer / Speaker | 2023 |
| Earth Day Beach Clean Up, Ghana 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| International Concert Against Racism, Costa Rica 2023 | Speaker / Performer | 2023 |
| UNEP Celebration of World Ocean Day, June 2022 (virtual) | Speaker | 2022 |
| United Nations Environment Assembly, Nairobi, Kenya March 2022 | Speaker / Performer | 2022 |
| Launch of Diaspora Flag for Sixth Region of Africa, Accra, Ghana February 2022 | Speaker | 2022 |
| World Day of African & Afrodescendant Culture, Accra, Ghana January 2022 | Speaker | 2022 |
| COP26, Scotland, UK October 2021 | Ambassador | 2021 |
Discography
[edit]| Album | Year |
|---|---|
| The Movement | 1996 |
| Crusade | 1998 |
| Awakening | 2001 |
| Book of Changes | 2005[24] |
| Hymns for the Rebel Soul | 2010 |
| Branches of The Same Tree | 2015[25] |
| Beats of Zion | 2019[26] |
Videography
[edit] |
| Year | Title | Director | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Walk The Talk | — | [27] |
| 2010 | African Reggae Fever | — | [28] |
| 2010 | Download The Reveolution | — | [29] |
| 2015 | Nairobi | — | [30] |
| 2015 | African Thriller | — | [31] |
| 2017 | Shine a Light | — | [32] |
| 2019 | Beats of Zion | — | [33] |
| 2019 | Elevation | — | [34] |
| 2019 | Champion Arise | — | [35] |
| 2022 | Neva Bow Down | Slingshot | [36] |
Music featured in movies
[edit]| Soundtrack | Movie title | Movie Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Shine a Light[37] | Fist Fight | Comedy |
Music featured on television
[edit]| Track | TV Program | TV Station |
|---|---|---|
| Wake the Town | ER | NBC |
| Jammin Nation | Weeds | Showtime |
| Jah Be For Us | Weeds (TV series) | Showtime |
| Shashemane | ER | NBC |
| Jah Be For Us | Dexter (TV series) | Showtime |
| Knockin on Heaven's Door | ER | NBC |
| Turn it Up | Animal Kingdom | TNT (U.S. TV network) |
| Burn One | Animal Kingdom | TNT (U.S. TV network) |
Music featured on video games
[edit]| Track | EA Games | Year |
|---|---|---|
| African Thriller | 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil | 2014 |
| Reggae Carnival Style | The Sims 3: Island Paradise | 2013 |
| African Soccer Fever | 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa | 2010 |
| Download the Revolution | FIFA 10 | 2009 |
| The One | The Sims 2: Castaway | 2008 |
| Wake Up the Townft. Nana Ama x Shee | FIFA 08 | 2007 |
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Rocky Dawuni music, videos, stats, and photos".Last.fm.2023-05-09.Retrieved2023-11-07.
- ^"as of 2023 Rocky became a three-time Grammy Nominee".theafricandream.net.Retrieved11 March2023.
- ^abcd"'Ghana's Bob Marley' spreads message of brotherhood ".CNN. 23 August 2011.Retrieved9 March2015.
- ^"Rocky grew up in Michel Camp, Ghana".katc.com.Retrieved26 April2016.
- ^"Branches of the Same Tree album".iTunes.Retrieved10 December2015.
- ^"Rocky nominated for a Grammy".theafricandream.net.Retrieved26 April2016.
- ^"Roots Reggae Albums | The Essential 10".Songlines.Retrieved2022-06-27.
- ^"Rocky Dawuni".Cumbancha.Retrieved2022-06-27.
- ^"2019 single release".TheAfricanDream.net.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"2019 album".TheAfricanDream.net.Retrieved3 March2019.
- ^"Beats of Zion".PopMatters.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"Beats of Zion album".PopMatters.Retrieved22 June2019.
- ^"Rocky Dawuni Aims to Re-energize the Forces of Love and Hope on" Beats of Zion "(premiere), PopMatters".PopMatters.2019-01-22.Retrieved2022-06-28.
- ^"Rocky Dawuni:" Champion Arise "| Today's Top Tune".KCRW.2020-06-30.Retrieved2022-06-27.
- ^"Rocky Dawuni 'Champion Arise' video premiere".Music-News.com.Retrieved2022-06-28.
- ^Rocky Dawuni "Ghost Town",retrieved2022-06-28
- ^Rocky Dawuni "Woara",retrieved2022-06-28
- ^Nwafor (2023-01-22)."Sheila O fetes Grammy nominees, Tobe Nwigwe, Rocky Dawuni".Vanguard News.Retrieved2023-01-31.
- ^Francis-Pitt, K'Shema (2023-01-30)."Who will win the Grammy for Best Reggae Album?".IrieFm.Retrieved2023-01-31.
- ^"Rocky featured on CNN".cnn.com.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"UN Goodwill Ambassador".unenvironment.org.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"Rocky works with Clean Cook Alliance".cleancookingalliance.org.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"Rocky Clean Cook Alliance".theafricandream.net.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"Book of Changes".iTunes.Retrieved26 April2016.
- ^"Branches of The Same Tree at 58th Grammys".Grammy.Retrieved26 April2016.
- ^"7th album".TheAfricanDream.net.Retrieved3 March2019.
- ^"Walk The Talk video".sonichits.com.Retrieved6 February2019.
- ^"African Reggae Fever video".rastafari.tv.Retrieved6 February2019.
- ^"Sownload The Revolution video".biafranunity.tv.Retrieved6 February2019.
- ^"Music Video Rocky Dawuni - Nairobi".Pulse.com.gh.David Mawuli.Retrieved16 February2016.
- ^"African Thriller video".TheAfricanDream.net.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"Shine a Light video".www.axs.com.Retrieved6 February2019.
- ^"Beats of Zion video".TheAfricanDream.net.Retrieved26 January2019.
- ^"Elevation video".RockyDawuni.com.Retrieved14 May2020.
- ^"Champion Arise video".TheAfricanDream.net.Retrieved14 May2020.
- ^"Rocky Dawuni releases 'Neva Bow Down' video ft Blvk H3ro".Ghana Weekend.2022-10-08.Retrieved2022-10-11.
- ^"Fist Fight soundtrack".soundtrackmania.net.Retrieved6 February2019.
