Post by dawyked on May 5, 2006 9:32:14 GMT 1
once again the "wonder" strikes...
part 1
Sunday, April 16, 2006
BY JAY LUSTIG
Star-Ledger Staff
There is a familiar name in the Top 40 this week: Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis. He's there as the co-writer and co-producer of Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie," which rose to No. 33, up from No. 41 last week.
Sometimes called "The Fourth Fugee" -- he plays bass for the group, and is its unofficial musical director -- Duplessis is a cousin of Fugees member Wyclef Jean, and a partner in virtually all of Jean's creative endeavors. His many prior appearances on the pop, R&B and hip-hop charts over the last decade came via writing and production credits on hits such as Carlos Santana's "Maria Maria," Whitney Houston's "My Love Is Your Love," the Fugees' "Killing Me Softly," "No Woman, No Cry" and "Ready Or Not," Jean's "Gone Till November" and "911," and Pras Michel's "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)."
Jean co-wrote and co-produced "Hips Don't Lie," and contributes a guest rap.
"Anything Clef does, I'm his co-pilot," says the soft-spoken Duplessis, 38. "I keep him straight, and he keeps me straight.
"Twenty-four hours (a day), he knows where I'm at. Twenty-four hours, trust me, I know where he's at."
Jean and Duplessis, who are both Haiti-born New Jerseyans, don't just make music together. They co-own Platinum Sound, a New York recording studio whose clients have included 50 Cent, Janet Jackson and Mary J. Blige. And they created an organization, Yéle Haiti, that supports many different charitable initiatives in their home country.
Duplessis says he can count on one hand the number of times they have disagreed about something. Still, in some ways, they seem more like opposites than kindred spirits. While the outgoing Jean loves the limelight, Duplessis is happy staying in the background. He has never released a record under his own name, and says he has never before done an interview that focused on his own career.
"We didn't come out of the same stomach, but we're twins," says Jean. "You just got one with a loud personality, and one that is more quiet."
Duplessis lives in North Caldwell, but also has an apartment in New York where he can crash after long days at Platinum Sound. "Sometimes I don't go home for two weeks, and (my house is) right there in Jersey!" he says, with a laugh. "I just don't have the time. We're here to, like, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning, and if you gotta come back at 10, it don't make no sense to return to Jersey."
As usual, he is juggling a lot of projects these days. He played bass for Shakira at her recent appearances promoting "Hips Don't Lie" on television shows such as "American Idol," "The Early Show" and "Live With Regis and Kelly." He is also recording a new song with her -- a still-untitled anthem that she plans to release in conjunction with the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament.
part 1Sunday, April 16, 2006
BY JAY LUSTIG
Star-Ledger Staff
There is a familiar name in the Top 40 this week: Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis. He's there as the co-writer and co-producer of Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie," which rose to No. 33, up from No. 41 last week.
Sometimes called "The Fourth Fugee" -- he plays bass for the group, and is its unofficial musical director -- Duplessis is a cousin of Fugees member Wyclef Jean, and a partner in virtually all of Jean's creative endeavors. His many prior appearances on the pop, R&B and hip-hop charts over the last decade came via writing and production credits on hits such as Carlos Santana's "Maria Maria," Whitney Houston's "My Love Is Your Love," the Fugees' "Killing Me Softly," "No Woman, No Cry" and "Ready Or Not," Jean's "Gone Till November" and "911," and Pras Michel's "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)."
Jean co-wrote and co-produced "Hips Don't Lie," and contributes a guest rap.
"Anything Clef does, I'm his co-pilot," says the soft-spoken Duplessis, 38. "I keep him straight, and he keeps me straight.
"Twenty-four hours (a day), he knows where I'm at. Twenty-four hours, trust me, I know where he's at."
Jean and Duplessis, who are both Haiti-born New Jerseyans, don't just make music together. They co-own Platinum Sound, a New York recording studio whose clients have included 50 Cent, Janet Jackson and Mary J. Blige. And they created an organization, Yéle Haiti, that supports many different charitable initiatives in their home country.
Duplessis says he can count on one hand the number of times they have disagreed about something. Still, in some ways, they seem more like opposites than kindred spirits. While the outgoing Jean loves the limelight, Duplessis is happy staying in the background. He has never released a record under his own name, and says he has never before done an interview that focused on his own career.
"We didn't come out of the same stomach, but we're twins," says Jean. "You just got one with a loud personality, and one that is more quiet."
Duplessis lives in North Caldwell, but also has an apartment in New York where he can crash after long days at Platinum Sound. "Sometimes I don't go home for two weeks, and (my house is) right there in Jersey!" he says, with a laugh. "I just don't have the time. We're here to, like, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning, and if you gotta come back at 10, it don't make no sense to return to Jersey."
As usual, he is juggling a lot of projects these days. He played bass for Shakira at her recent appearances promoting "Hips Don't Lie" on television shows such as "American Idol," "The Early Show" and "Live With Regis and Kelly." He is also recording a new song with her -- a still-untitled anthem that she plans to release in conjunction with the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament.