Rocky Dawuni
Rocky Dawuni | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Ghana | January 22, 1969
Occupation(s) | Musician and Activist |
Website | www |
Rocky Dawuni is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter and record producer who performs his signature 'Afro Roots' sound which is a mixture of Reggae, Afrobeat, Highlife and soul music. He currently lives between Ghana and Los Angeles.[1]
Dawuni got acquainted with Reggae in Ghana when he heard a military band performing one of Bob Marley's compositions in Michel Camp;[2] a military barracks where he grew up in Ghana.[1] Dawuni started the annual "Independence Splash" festival, which was held in Ghana on Ghanaian Independence Day, March 6.[1]
Dawuni had recorded seven full length albums by 2019.[1] His sixth studio album titled Branches of The Same Tree for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in December 2015 for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards,[3] released 31 March 2015 was nominated the first nominee from his home country of Ghana.[4] Beats of Zion, the 2019 single of Rocky which was released January 25th [5] is a precursor to his 7th studio album which also bears the same title.[6][7][8] In June 2019 Rocky released the new single "Modern Man", remixed by Gaudi.
Activism and goodwill
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.[9]
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[10] and is a Global Ambassador for the UN Foundation’s Clean Cooking Alliance alongside actress Julia Roberts and Chef José Andrés.[11][12]
Discography
Album | Year |
---|---|
The Movement | 1996 |
Crusade | 1998 |
Awakening | 2001 |
Book of Changes | 2005 [13] |
Hymns for the Rebel Soul | 2010 |
Branches of The Same Tree | 2015 [14] |
Beats of Zion | 2019 [15] |
Videography
Year | Title | Director | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Walk The Talk | — | [16] |
2010 | African Reggae Fever | — | [17] |
2010 | Download The Reveolution | — | [18] |
2015 | Nairobi | — | [19] |
2015 | African Thriller | — | [20] |
2017 | Shine a Light | — | [21] |
2019 | Beats of Zion | — | [22] |
Music featured in movies
Soundtrack | Movie title | Movie Genre |
---|---|---|
Shine a Light[23] | Fist Fight | Comedy |
Music featured on television
Track | TV Program | TV Station |
---|---|---|
Wake the Town | ER | NBC |
Jammin Nation | Weeds | Showtime |
Jah Be For Us | Weeds | Showtime |
Shashemane | ER | NBC |
Jah Be For Us | Dexter | Showtime |
Knockin on Heaven's Door | ER | NBC |
Burn One | Animal Kingdom (TV series) | TNT (U.S. TV network) |
Music featured on video games
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 | FIFA 08 | 2007 |
References
- ^ a b c d "'Ghana's Bob Marley' spreads message of brotherhood". CNN. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ "Rocky grew up in Michel Camp, Ghana". katc.com. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "Branches of the Same Tree album". iTunes. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "Rocky nominated for a Grammy". theafricandream.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "2019 single release". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "2019 album". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ "Beats of Zion". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Beats of Zion album". PopMatters. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "Rocky featured on CNN". cnn.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "UN Goodwill Ambassador". unenvironment.org. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Rocky works with Clean Cook Alliance". cleancookingalliance.org. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Rocky Clean Cook Alliance". theafricandream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Book of Changes". iTunes. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "Branches of The Same Tree at 58th Grammys". Grammy. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "7th album". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ "Walk The Talk video". sonichits.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ "African Reggae Fever video". rastafari.tv. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ "Sownload The Revolution video". biafranunity.tv. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ "Music Video Rocky Dawuni - Nairobi". Pulse.com.gh. David Mawuli. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "African Thriller video". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Shine a Light video". www.axs.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ "Beats of Zion video". TheAfricanDream.net. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Fist Fight soundtrack". soundtrackmania.net. Retrieved 6 February 2019.