Biography
He was born Desbert Johnson on June 20th, 1973 in St Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Chezidek started singing from an early age at school concerts and was a member of the St. Ann's Bay Marching Band.
He left St Ann’s Bay for Kingston where he connected with the late record producer Phillip “Fatis” Burrell (Xterminator Records). It was with Burrell that he recorded his first album in 2002, entitled “Harvest Time” (distributed by VP Records). The album spawned popular tracks such as, Can’t Hear Must Feel, Breakfree and the title track Harvest Time, setting the pace for what would become a long and illustrious music career for Chezidek. His first number one single was Leave the Trees, on the Our Promotion label, produced by Hugh Miller (aka Bunny Dan). Stellar album releases include “Rising Sun” (Xterminator Records, 2005), “Mash Dem Down” (Al.Ta.Fa.An, 2006), and “Firm Up Yourself” (Cousins Records, 2007). With these releases, Chezidek caught the attention of popular New York music producer and radio DJ (HOT 97 NY) Bobby “Massive B” Konders. The link with Konders yielded the album “Inna Di Road” (released September 2007). It became an instant success. Call Pon Dem from the album is featured on the Massive B Sound System (station) in Grand Theft Auto IV and it also appears on the Official Grand Theft Auto IV Soundtrack. After “Inna Di Road”, came more hit singles for Chezidek - Burn Di Ganja, Sun or Rain, and Herb Campaign being standouts. Chezidek then teamed up with the legendary producers Sly & Robbie to record the album “Sly & Robbie Present Chezidek - I Grade” (Tabou 1, 2009). In a BBC review of the album, Journalist Angus Taylor wrote, “the strength and fervor of Chezidek’s plaintive, insistent vocals and the Spartan backings of the ‘rhythm twins’ are a perfect match”. In 2010 and again in 2013, he joined forces with the Netherlands based label Jah Solid Rock to release the albums “Judgement Time” and “Order of Melchezedik”. Both albums are critically acclaimed and have received massive support worldwide. Standout singles for 2014 included Damage, Friday Night and Bless My Life. His focus single so far in 2015 is No More War produced by Henry “Sadiki” Buckley, Jr, (Skinny Bwoy Records, 2015) and is a timely and potent anti-war anthem, which simply spreads the message of one love. Chezidek has gone from being a solid and very well respected singer to one of the finest songwriters and one of the most in demand modern Roots Reggae artist. He never stops spreading his message of Love, Unity, Justice and Equality for all Humanity. He has graced the stages of many major Reggae events worldwide, some of which include - Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Reggae Rising Festival (California), Uppsala Reggae Festival (Sweden), Reggae Sun Ska Festival (France), Lake Splash Reggae Festival (Switzerland), Rebel Salute (Jamaica), Reggae Sundance Festival (Netherlands), Sting (Jamaica), Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (California), Ostroda Reggae Festival (Poland) and Festijam (France). |
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