Bio: Nasio was the last of seven children born on his parents’ farm in Bagatell/Carte-Bois, a small village on the southeastern coast of Dominica. His mother is a full-blooded Carib Indian and his father of African ancestry. Nasio prefers not divulge his birth year or his age, saying that he is “as old as yesterday, as young as today.” Nasio first began singing in church and in school, often winning singing contests at his school. He grew up listening to the up-tempo sounds of Calypso, soca and Zouk.
In 1981 Nasio moved to St. Maarten and was introduced to Reggae music and the Rastafarian faith. He worked as a handyman and a day laborer saving his earnings with the goal of recording Rastafarian music. In 1986, Nasio recorded his first single “Born to Be Free,” and thanks to steady airplay “Born To Be Free” sold just over 5,000 copies on St. Maarten, the first time a local artist sold that amount of records.
In 1990, Nasio recorded “Babylon Is Falling”. In 1992, he recorded “Reggae Power” in Jamaica but decided not release it until 1994. In 1994 Nasio he took his music to the US where he also gained the expertise a manager Lenny Shillingford. Within a year, Reggae Power was on radio stations and in record stores around the globe earning Nasio nominations for “Best New Artist” by the Tamika Reggae Awards, “Best Reggae Album” by Canadian Reggae Music Awards and “Best Reggae Album of 1996" by Reggae Roots International Magazine.
He went on to release “Wolf Catcher” (1997) and “Revolution” (1999). He continues to record and tour the World spreading his brand of Roots Reggae music.
Afiwi.com's complete profile on Nasio Fontaine
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