Chuck Fenda approaching 50 with ‘more fire’
Published:Monday | May 30, 2022 | 12:35 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
In an interview with The Gleaner, I Swear recording artiste Chuck Fenda opened up about getting older, “wiser”, and his plans to “light more fire” for his big 50th birthday anniversary celebration.
“Really and truly, I want to turn up the torch a little higher because we are seeing a lot of things right now, that shows that the fire not burning like how it used to burn,” Chuck Fenda said while promoting his birthday event Fire Inna Di City, which will be held on Saturday, June 18, in Hartford, Connecticut.
“I’m a simple man, old school, so I just want the event to be wholesome and that people will leave with consciousness on them mind and saying ‘that was the event to be and one that was needed’,” he continued.
And anyone who knows Leshorn Whitehead, Chuck Fenda’s given name, knows that spreading consciousness does not stop at hosting or performing at an event. Talking about big plans manifesting for the golden year, he shared that he will be releasing his sixth studio album, Eternal Fire. But instead of on his birth date on June 15, he chose September 5 – the date of Abigail Walters-Whitehead’s birthday.
“That’s the love of my life for more than seven years, who I married last year December,” he said, adding that “she gives me inspiration and constructive criticism”.
The reggae-dancehall music hitmaker said that throughout his career, he has seen where persons are not honest or are afraid to share their opinions of songs that he records, whether before or after they are released.
“People look at you as a respectable artiste, will say ‘dah song deh bad’ and some really mean it in the negative sense, even though they are saying it’s a hit. Nuff man nah stop you and say dem nuh like it,” he said. “My wife will be honest and tell me she doesn’t like the vocals, or the instrumentals, suggest that I change the way I sing something or to add more melody and even though I may not agree, I listen and return to the studio and it becomes a real hit.”
Chuck Fenda has four children with Abigail, but a total of 11 children. As a father, he feels blessed and finds that there are just enough reasons to give thanks for life. Going on to share his feelings about getting older, the artiste has no qualms about ageing, he said, reminding people that “whenever Jah say a time, a just that time but as Jah give health and strength, we must put in the work”.
“The older the wiser, we would hope that at least; when we are strong in ourselves, it means we have a purpose to the Earth. I see the job and the responsibility I have been given, and trust me, my job hard…it not always just about making a song, we have to turn up the fire, meaning just come out strong and be righteous in what we believe in and not be afraid to share it because my career deal with righteousness,” Chuck Fenda said.
He added, “As an artiste, me get serious fight in the business because I wasn’t born here but it was not something I chose when my mother had me, then at six weeks she brought me to live with my grandmother in Jamaica. My journey and work chose me and to see that the conscious music is getting a similar fight, not the love it deserves, it really pains my heart.”
Speaking about entertainers who have for long “lighted an eternal fire”, naming Sizzla, Capleton, Anthony B, Turbulence and I-Wayne, he said that he is not seeing a new generation of these conscious acts and one of his birthday wishes is for one of the younger acts to look on the impact the veterans have made and aim to do the same.
“I want to see more of our younger, emerging artistes to stop focusing on the hype. People have gone astray just to get attention. All this crime globally, not just in our country, more guns in the place, 19 children in a school a get killed in that Texas shooting, baby a get tek weh – it is dreadful. It is often we hear people want to have live shows with these artistes to burn a fire, send a message, pleading with conscious artistes to save the music and spread the message. But even with all that, people not embracing consciousness,” he said.
In his decades-long career, Chuck Fenda has adopted the “fire cyaa cool, cyaa ease up” mentality as he continues to hustle, tour, working on new music to address the social ills and serving as a mentor to the youth. Explaining that while the birthday party, which also doubles as a live show, is being held in Connecticut, the important thing is that a positive message is reaching a wider audience and that “dancehall culture is big there, people are listening to us”. He is also scheduled to perform on the Boston Culture Fest on Friday, June 17.
A successful artiste, who expressed that he has a lot more years in him, said he does not forget his heritage and how the music plays a big role in his own development. Taking a minute to point out one thing he would like to see changed about the music industry, he urged for persons to give the music the push it needs to be seen as a global phenomenon.
“We can’t be trying to suppress one side and a push the other. There has to be a balance. That is why a lot of artistes get fed up and leave Jamaica, that feeling like they are being held back. The work continues on the battle field because people are crying for the music. There is a lot more work we have to do same way to earn the respect. I’m reminded that six weeks Gash Dem and Light Dem spend in the number-one spot on the charts and a fire we a come fi bun. The fight can only make you stronger. More fire for the 50th,” said Chuck Fenda.