 Wayna Wondwossen
Location: Washington, DC
Genre(s): R&B
Booking: Click Here
It was in the late 1970s, when a young Wayna Wondwossen was first introduced to American music. The three-year old
toddler -- who had immigrated to the United States from her native Ethiopia only days before -- stood mesmerized beside
her family's record player, listening to Captain & Tennille's hit "Love Will Keep Us Together" over, and over, and over again.
Inspired by the excitement of this first encounter, Wayna continued to explore her love for music throughout her childhood, starring in theater productions such as "Annie,"
"The Boyfriend," and "Damn Yankees," and touring with a children's musical revue company entitled Song Inc. She went on to hone her vocal talents as a young
adult by absorbing the works of her favorite artists, including Minnie Riperton, Aretha Franklin, Stevie
Wonder, Billie Holiday, and Donny Hathaway. Practicing on the old Steinway in her college dormitory,
Wayna taught herself to play the piano. It wasn't long before the chord progressions she experimented
with developed into original songs, drawing on the musical influences of her childhood and the international and soulful stylings of the artists she grew to admire as an adult.
In 1995, Wayna was crowned Miss Black Unity of the University of Maryland, earning a one year tuition
scholarship and special honors for 'Best Talent' and 'Best Response to Question' at the 17th Annual
Pageant. The following year, she founded of a gospel quartet and performed with the group at the World
Famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., where they placed as finalist in the Amateur Night competition.
Traveling as a soloist with the critically acclaimed University of Maryland Gospel Choir, she performed
regularly at churches and gospel showcases throughout the East Coast, discovering first-hand the power of song to convey spiritual insights.
During this time, Wayna was asked to perform at a Tribute to African Women, an inaugural event that
marked the beginning of a new University tradition. "I combed through several songs trying to find just the
right one to suit this program," she recounts, "but I couldn't find anything that expressed exactly what I
wanted to say, so…I ended up writing one." That ballad became the first original piece she would
perform for an audience. "It was so gratifying," she recalls. "I literally felt as though God had given me a
message, and that I had shared it along with a part of myself with everyone there. On that day, music
became more than entertainment or a source of comfort to me. I began to see it as a tool to heal and inspire people, including myself."
Upon earning a Bachelor's degree with a double major in English and Speech Communications from the
University of Maryland, Wayna began her professional career as a Writer in the Office of Presidential
Letters and Messages at the White House. There, she wrote presidential proclamations, correspondence,
and commemorative messages on behalf of President Clinton regarding a variety of domestic and
international policies, including human rights, race relations, women's issues, and the economy. While she
enjoyed success as a Writer and Activist, she continued to perform throughout the Washington, D.C area,
and even at the White House. But soon, the pull to realize her dream as a recording artist would prove too
great, and in the year 2001, she chose to leave her work to begin writing, recording, and performing music full-time.
Since then, Wayna has collaborated with dynamic drum and bass duo, Sly and Robbie to write and
perform on two tracks for their latest release with Palm Pictures. She's also worked with legendary
world, jazz, and hip hop producer Bill Laswell and continued to develop her own material with critically
and commercially acclaimed Jive Records producer, Veit Renn and with her own production partners
Abegaz Shiota and Thomas Gobena. What has emerged is a collection of infectious, introspective songs
that fuse soul, world, and hip hop music to speak in a universal voice about love, loss, faith, and courage.
"I've poured some of the hardest lessons I've had to learn into these songs – feelings that I am still sorting
through, and the music helps with that." From the insightful feel-good message found in "Rose Colored
Glasses" to the deeply personal love lessons revealed in "Desperation Days," "This Ol' Grudge," and
"Past Future Eternal," these tunes resonate across cultural and musical genres to celebrate one artist's search for personal truth.
With uncommon beauty, rare talent, and a voice that is as sweet and pure as it is honest and passionate,
this captivating singer/songwriter is destined to entertain and enlighten audiences throughout the world for many years to come.
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