A native of Northern Clarendon in Jamaica, Monsoon born Denton Bedward has been compared to veteran singer-songwriter’s Capelton, Luciano and Tony Rebel. But where he really shines is on stage. After all, with a name like Monsoon, Bedward knows he has to come in like a strong wind, without mashin’ up the place too much. If you ask Monsoon, he’ll tell you his passion to explode musically has always been in his DNA. A stage career was in the making from as early as 5 years old when as a youngster, students would pay to hear him sing and DJ their favorite songs.
Monsoon migrated to the United States, where he settled in the Washington, D.C. area. Monsoon is currently recording songs with top producers in Jamaica and is promoting a few singles to include, “Asalaam-Alaikum,”, “Keep On Loving You” and soca favorite “Wine Up On Me” which are being received emphatically in Jamaica, England and Canada. Monsoon, who performed at President Clinton’s inauguration and has opened for international recording artists (including Shaggy, Buju Banton, Capelton, Beres Hammond, Steel Pulse and Third World) is poised and position for his solo career. “I’m anxious to see how far I can go.
It would be nice to be recognized as one of Jamaica’s finest reggae artists, but these things take time,” says Monsoon, who during the Summer of 2009, opened for reggae icons Yellow Man, Professor Nuts, Frankie Paul and Leroy Sibbles. After that performance, he got another moniker: a modern-day “Toots” (of the famed Toots and The Maytals). “I don’t even want to embrace that one,” he says. Toots is a legend, an icon. I just want to find my own place. Hopefully I will have a few people come along for the ride.
