Dwayne Morgan began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. In 1994, while still in high school, he founded Up From The Roots entertainment, to promote the positive artistic contributions of African Canadian and urban influenced artists.

A member of the Writers’ Union of Canada, Morgan has received both the African Canadian Achievement Award, and the Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Arts. Morgan is the winner of 3 Canadian Urban Music Awards (2001, 2003, 2005). In 1998, Morgan introduced regular poetry slams to Toronto, and has watched them blossom across the GTA and beyond ever since. In 2005 he was recognized as Poet of Honour at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Vancouver. In 2008 Morgan’s contribution to the Arts and Canadian society were recognized on the Legacy Black History Month poster.
Dwayne has published 6 books, most recently, Her Favourite Shoes, which followed, The Sensual Musings of Dwayne Morgan (2010), The Making of A Man (2005), The Man Behind The Mic (2002), Long Overdue (1999), and chapbooks, The Revolution Starts Within (1996), and Straight From The Roots (1995). In 2009, Morgan’s work was translated into French, culminating in the book, Le Making of d’un Homme. His albums include, Another Level (1997), The Evolution (2001), Soul Searching (2003), A Decade in the Making (2004), Mellow Mood: The End of the Beginning (2007), and Idle Hands (2011). In 2008, Morgan released a commemorative DVD entitled, Dwayne Morgan The First Fifteen.

Dwayne has performed for the former Governor General of Canada, The Honourable Michaelle Jean, and has shared the stage with many of Canada’s top artists including Russell Peters, Deborah Cox, Kardinal Offishal, Jully Black, K-OS, and Nelly Furtado, while opening for international artists Alicia Keys, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Mutabaruka, Ursula Rucker, Colin Channer, and Saul Williams, and recording with Canadian artists including Grammy nominee, Drake.

To further explore his creativity, Dwayne collaborated with Driftwood Studios to film, Three Knocks, a ten minute film based on his domestic violence poem of the same name, which premiered in Toronto’s Reel World Film Festival. In March 2008, Dwayne hosted his first photography exhibit, The Sum of Her Parts, exploring female body image.

Dwayne’s work ethic has taken him across Canada, the United States, Jamaica, Barbados, England, Scotland, Belgium, Budapest, Germany, France, Norway, and Holland. His emphasis on quality has driven his success, and has made him a well-respected component of Toronto’s urban music community, as well as the North American, and Global, spoken word scenes.

Morgan spends countless hours working with young people and advocating for gender equality through his work. As a speaker, Morgan is dynamic, engaging, and down to earth; he can often be found sharing his story, and the philosophies that have helped him to remain relevant in the ever changing entertainment industry.

We had the opportunity to speak with Dwayne on the morning of his “When Brothers Speak” presentation in Toronto which he has been doing for fourteen years.

During our chat, Dwayne shares about:

– His spoken word career of 20 years which has included 7 books, 6 albums and 14 countries
– How became involved with spoken word
– How he came up with the name “Up From The Roots Entertainment”
– He did not receive support at the beginning
– his first live performance
– The history behind “When Brothers Speak” and the work behind it
some background at this year’s “When Brothers Speak Toronto”
– How has the spoken word marketplace changed
– What is going on with today’s youth and words of advice for parents and elders when dealing with young people
– Words of advice for people who want to get into spoken word
– Words for Black men

You can connect with Dwayne via:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
You Tube

For more information on “When Brothers Speak Toronto” (which is live in Toronto tonight) including tickets, please click on the following link: http://www.stlc.com/index.php?id=1514

Please feel free to email us at info@blackcanadianman.com

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God bless, peace, be well and keep the faith,
Dr. Vibe
info@blackcanadianman.com
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