Rocky Dawuni

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Rocky Dawuni
Rocky Dawuni playing the guitar
Rocky Dawuni
Background information
Born (1969-01-22) January 22, 1969 (age 55)
OriginGhana
Occupation(s)Musician and Activist
Websitewww.rockydawuni.com

Rocky Dawuni (born 22 January 1969)[1]is a Ghanaian singer, a three-time Grammy-nominee,[2] songwriter and record producer who performs his signature 'Afro Roots' sound which is a mixture of Reggae, Afrobeats, Highlife and Soul music. 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 of Bob Marley's compositions in Michel Camp;[4] a military barracks where he grew up.[3] Dawuni started the annual "Independence Splash" festival, which is held in Ghana on Ghanaian Independence Day, March 6.[3]

Dawuni has recorded eight full-length albums. [3] His sixth studio album titled Branches of The Same Tree was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in December 2015 for the 58th 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 by Gaudi. His 8th studio release, Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1 was nominated during the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 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 actor Beau 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 for Woara (which translates as "you or it's you" in Twi) in September 2021. It was sung in the local Akan dialect, Twi. Woara is 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 the Best Global Music Performance for 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 with Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Jason Mraz, Janelle Monáe and John Legend, among many others. Named one of Africa's Top 10 global stars by CNN.[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 a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Africa for UN Environment[21] and is a Global Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance alongside actress Julia Roberts and Chef José Andrés.[22][23]

Rocky was named the Global Ambassador for the World Day of African and Afrodescendant Culture recognized by UNESCO, through which he uses his music to shine a light on crucial issues facing humanity across the globe.

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
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 Town ft. Nana Ama x Shee FIFA 08 2007

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rocky Dawuni music, videos, stats, and photos". Last.fm. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. ^ "as of 2023 Rocky became a three-time Grammy Nominee". theafricandream.net. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "'Ghana's Bob Marley' spreads message of brotherhood". CNN. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Rocky grew up in Michel Camp, Ghana". katc.com. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Branches of the Same Tree album". iTunes. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Rocky nominated for a Grammy". theafricandream.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Roots Reggae Albums | The Essential 10". Songlines. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  8. ^ "Rocky Dawuni". Cumbancha. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  9. ^ "2019 single release". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  10. ^ "2019 album". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Beats of Zion". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Beats of Zion album". PopMatters. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Rocky Dawuni Aims to Re-energize the Forces of Love and Hope on "Beats of Zion" (premiere), PopMatters". PopMatters. 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  14. ^ "Rocky Dawuni: "Champion Arise" | Today's Top Tune". KCRW. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  15. ^ "Rocky Dawuni 'Champion Arise' video premiere". Music-News.com. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  16. ^ Rocky Dawuni "Ghost Town", retrieved 2022-06-28
  17. ^ Rocky Dawuni "Woara", retrieved 2022-06-28
  18. ^ Nwafor (2023-01-22). "Sheila O fetes Grammy nominees, Tobe Nwigwe, Rocky Dawuni". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  19. ^ Francis-Pitt, K'Shema (2023-01-30). "Who will win the Grammy for Best Reggae Album?". IrieFm. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  20. ^ "Rocky featured on CNN". cnn.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  21. ^ "UN Goodwill Ambassador". unenvironment.org. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Rocky works with Clean Cook Alliance". cleancookingalliance.org. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Rocky Clean Cook Alliance". theafricandream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  24. ^ "Book of Changes". iTunes. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Branches of The Same Tree at 58th Grammys". Grammy. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  26. ^ "7th album". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Walk The Talk video". sonichits.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  28. ^ "African Reggae Fever video". rastafari.tv. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  29. ^ "Sownload The Revolution video". biafranunity.tv. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  30. ^ "Music Video Rocky Dawuni - Nairobi". Pulse.com.gh. David Mawuli. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  31. ^ "African Thriller video". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  32. ^ "Shine a Light video". www.axs.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  33. ^ "Beats of Zion video". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  34. ^ "Elevation video". RockyDawuni.com. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Champion Arise video". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  36. ^ "Rocky Dawuni releases 'Neva Bow Down' video ft Blvk H3ro". Ghana Weekend. 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  37. ^ "Fist Fight soundtrack". soundtrackmania.net. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
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