Wayne Stoddart Biography

On warm tropical evenings, there was one place a young Wayne Stoddart could surely be found - hiding in his father's vast vinyl record collection. Immersing himself into the scenic soundscape of American Rock and Roll or rocking himself steady to the soothing heartbeat of authentic Jamaican Reggae, Wayne Stoddart loved listening to music. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Wayne enjoyed the comforts of a family that loved music. Touring as one half of the "Stoddart Brothers" (a group he formed with his brother Steve), Wayne spent his high school years honing his skills both as a vocalist and a musician. Despite the upbeat and lively music he would play, Wayne was fully aware of his surrounding conditions. Living deep in the inner city community of Eastern Kingston, Wayne witnessed firsthand the stifling effects of despair, injustice, hurt and hopelessness. From the complexities of his surrounding environment, Wayne Stoddart learned the importance of hope, love and joy and realized that music was a medium, which can be used as an effective way of imparting messages of hope to listeners. As an artist, Wayne consciously chooses to pen lyrics that address the "issue of misplaced priorities that plague humanity." He strives to craft lyrics that strike a balance between relevant and heartfelt; catchy and sincere. His dedication to authentic musicianship in crafting each and every single track he releases has gained him recognition internationally, including winning the Distinguished Male Vocal award at the 2003 Marlin Gospel Awards as well as a 2002 nomination for Best New Reggae Gospel album at the New York Caribbean Gospel Awards. The title track form his self-produced solo debut, "Committed" (2001) spent 8 weeks at number one on Jamaica's Love 101FMs top 10 chart. Now a resident of Florida, Wayne continues to offer authentic reggae vibes to listeners with his sophomore release "Love Convictions" (2007) - a collection of soulful, bass thumping tracks with his signature uplifting inspirational lyrics. Before beginning work on "Love Convictions" Wayne spent months in prayer and reading Holy Scripture. The result was a revelation which he puts simply as "Love. At the root of everything is love. Love in abundance or Lacking Love." A simple message which Wayne Stoddart uses to lyrically address hard hitting issues - tackling topics like drug abuse, global disunity and the need for persistence in the face of adversity. With more than twenty years of experience as a musician and vocalist Stoddart quickly points out, "Music is not a career for me. It's a passion, a calling." A calling he takes seriously. Having shared the stage with some of the most renowned musical artists such as the Grace Thrillers, Shirley Caesar, F.C. Barnes, Morgan Heritage and Gospel Reggae's First Lady Judy Mowatt (formerly a member of Bob Marley's I-Threes), Wayne has had the opportunity to touch many with his musical style and uplifting words. When asked about his music, Wayne simply states "I pray that it makes a difference in the lives of all who come within earshot."