JR

JR is a reggae singer/songwriter born in Sierra Leone and has been residing in the US since 1989. While attending high school, he joined a reggae band where he honed his skills. During a vacation to Sierra Leone in 2004, JR recorded two tracks “Rise Up Sa Lone" and "Gonna Miss You" featuring the Jungle Leaders, a talented group of guys with conscious reggae vibes. These two songs were featured on Jungle Leader’s "Same Soup" Album released in 2005. JR then went on to record "Back Stabber" featuring Jungle Leaders' own Funky Freddy – a song inspired by his struggle with dealing with disappointments from his trusted and close friends. JR has performed with the likes of K-man, Pupa Bajah, Daddy Saj, Emerson, Manzu Avec C-Bolt and of course the Jungle Leaders at sold out venues in Sierra Leone and in the US.
JR is a proud graduate of Marymount University where he acquired a BS in Computer Information Systems & Business Management. He has proudly served in US Army as a Sergeant for over 13yrs and was engaged in peace keeping missions in Sinai, Egypt.

JR's debut album "Born Sierra Leonean" has sold over 5,000 copies through his self managed production and distribution company JR Productions. Tracks on the album Born Sierra Leonean relay messages relating to the 10 years of political strife and brutality endured by Sierra Leoneans and also focuses on the continual corrupt practices of the powers that be, lending to the ominous sufferings of innocent men, women and children in Sierra Leone. The album is currently available in stores and can be downloaded from itunes, napster, rhapsody, Verizon, amazon, etc. He is currently working on his second album “Here To Stay” featuring the highly anticipated singles “Here To Stay”, “Black Rose” and “Turn Me Loose”.

Hobbies
Jokester, soccer, singing, cooking (don’t want to cook fear of burning beard)

Favorite Movies
Scarface, Tombstone

Favorite TV Shows
24 & Prison Break

Inspirations
JR is inspired by people like Bob Marley, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey, Nelson Mandela…people who are steadfast in their beliefs

JR’s Networking Sites
www.myspace.com/salonejr
bornsierraleonean.hi5.com
www.slmtv.com/web/jr_pg.asp
www.jrdistributions.com/jr/salone_jr.asp

Albums
Born Sierra Leonean (2006)
Here to Stay (2008)

Hit Singles
BackStabber-song deals with people you trust but turn against you when you need them most. “see dem smile ina ya face dem wan knock you off ya space, dem say dem ah ya fren but dem nor want you get no ends, dem see you ride ina ya benz see dem frown and see dem fret…(dem a back bitter, dem a backstabber)”

Born Sierra Leonean-“I was missing home (Sierra Leone) and wanted to go back.” “I am born Sierra Leonean no matter where I go, no matter what I do…I am a born Sierra Leonean, say am in love with the green, white and blue”

They Call Me JR-a fun and danceable song talking about the ladies and why they love JR.

Black Rose- a song about loving & nurturing love and life. The song describes the feeling and love that resonates when in the presence of his black rose. Black Rose is a symbol of JR’s ideal woman- strong, intelligent, beautiful and culturally infused –“black woman strike a pose, pretty like a rose you are the one I love the most, precious like a pearl I come running when you call…”

Here to Stay- song is about the trials & tribulations he faced when he went to do two shows in SL in 06. “I felt sabotaged by artists and people I trusted. I let out my frustrations in my friend’s car in the middle of Siaka Stevens Street. I chose to turn a negative into positive. I want people to know that there is no quitting in JR.”

Philanthropic work
President of Children’s Rights Council of Sierra leone (CRCSL)-donated food and clothing to the refugee camps in Sierra Leone after the war from clothes drive and fundraising events.
Community Service-donated computers, fax machines & copiers, participated in the clean up of the Sierra Leonean embassy in Washington, DC.

Performances
Since 2004, JR has performed at sold out venues in Sierra Leone, the UK and the US. Some of his most notable performances are:
-performed at the Supreme Music Awards show in Freetown, Sierra Leone in December 2006
-performed at the Sierra Leone Independence Day show at the Coronet in London on April 27, 2007
-performed at the Miss Africa USA Beauty Pageant in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2007