Grammy Winner Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis Donates Music Equipment to HS in Newark

Multi-Grammy-winning producer Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis returned to West Side High School in Newark last week. He donated professional music-technology equipment to the school’s program. The alumnus spent two days working with students and brought a group to his Platinum Sounds recording studio in New York City.

Duplessis brought keyboards, software, and instruments. The donation happened before Tuesday, March 3.

The producer has worked with Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Wyclef Jean, The Fugees, DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Carlos Santana, John Legend, and Shakira. He arrived at the school as a teenager after moving from Haiti.

“When I was a teenager, actually, I came to this school when I first came from Haiti,” he said, according to Patch.com. “Whenever I come to West Side, it always takes me back.”

He explained why he gave the gift. “It wasn’t easy. I didn’t have a Jerry Wonda in a classroom. I want to give back what I didn’t have to the young students today.”

Superintendent León praised what Duplessis did and how it connects to what the district wants to achieve. “He is providing cutting-edge equipment and opening doors for our young people to see themselves as creators, producers, and innovators,” León said. “What makes this partnership so powerful is that he is giving back to the next generation.”

Board of Education President Hasani K. Council said the gift ensures students learn on industry-standard equipment. “Partnerships like this show our students that their dreams are possible and that the world is within their reach,” Council said.

John Thomason teaches the program. He said the impact was immediate. “He’s bringing value that cannot be put to a price,” Thomason said. “When somebody comes in and talks about how they’re from the same streets … and they can talk about how they tour the world … that dream becomes a belief system.”

District Career Technology Supervisor Colleen Troiano said the partnership strengthens pathways at the school. Students learn more than just how to produce music.

“They talk about the musicality, but they also talk about all the other skills — building confidence, understanding what it’s like to work as a team, understanding the professional side,” Troiano said.

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