Denzel Martin

Oswald Martin aka Denzel is not your typical reggae entertainer. In fact, the Chicago-based artiste is quite the opposite. He is a warm, soft-spoken individual, a sculpture, furniture designer, and graphic artist by profession. 

Although he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, Denzel grew up in a community known as Balcarries, in the water parish of Portland, with his grandparents. During his formative years, he recalled music as his source of inspiration that would later help in influencing his decision to attend the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts as a teenager. Denzel migrated to the United States before final exams at Edna Manley, a move that somewhat changed his focus, but only until he was able to realign himself with his dreams and future. After settling down in Chicago he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Colombia College. 

As the years went by, Denzel was able to balance work with music. Inspired by the likes of Beres Hammond and Maxi Priest, he launched his music career in 1989 with the release of a song called “Memory” that somehow captures the vibe of both artists.  He writes with an intent to get people in touch with their emotions and is inclined to help keep Reggae’s Lovers Rock music alive.   

Denzel launched Lafayette Concept Record Label. In 2017, the label successfully released its’ first official single entitled, Love Song with a music video that hit World Reggae Television based in the United Kingdom and other cable channels across the Caribbean. The music got in rotation on several Jamaican radio channels and, by end of that year, Denzel landed his first-ever live performance on a major show in Jamaica, GT Extravaganza.     

The following year Denzel released another independently produced single off his Lafayette Concept Record label. The song entitled, Sorry, is a nice ballad and written apology. As the song rotates across Jamaican and other radio channels, Denzel went on to perform on the Festival of Life in Chicago, and in the Summer of 2019, he performed in Germany at Reggae Jam. 

Denzel remains adamant about keeping one of his main objectives to create music alive. His soothing, soul searching lovers rock joints can be enjoyed by young and old reggae music lovers.