THERE are indeed some very talented artistes who remain secluded for their own private reasons, and are not talked about often regardless of their valid musical exploits.
That is indeed the reason that I take great pride in presenting to you Ossie Oth’Neil Nedd, who is quite a shining star, but remains hidden behind the clouds.

Known for his unique voice that always creates havoc among the ladies, Ossie was born in Ann’s Grove Village, East Coast Demerara. His mother has often described him as “singing ever since he was in her belly” and his main influence as a young boy was the legendary pop artist, Michael Jackson.
He performed for the first time on stage at age eleven at the St. Rose’s High school when he offered the Whitney Houston classic, “I believe the children are our future”, and received a standing ovation. He also won an elocution contest on that very stage one week later, against the entire school. From that moment, his love for poetry and song writing began.
Years later, while at the University of Guyana, he performed at an annual music feature, Talent Festival, (Talfest) in 1998, singing the Indian hit song ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, along with an East Indian girl and was hailed on campus as a cultural icon and by newspaper editorials in Chronicle and Stabroek as playing a significant part in bringing ethnic groups together.
In 2001, the Theatre Arts Awards (TAA), nominated ‘Ossie O’ for the Best Male Singer Award for the song “Hooked on your love”, which was actually his first recorded song, and it saw him winning the coveted award. He later won a competition, “R n B Flava’, with the identical song which he said he penned as a ballad for his first love.
In 2003,’ Ossie O’ got the opportunity to serenade Michelle Williams of the famous ‘Destiny’s Child’ song group and once again his fame hit the newspapers. In the year 2005, he penned the lyrics for the now famous Guyanese Timeka Marshall who won the GT&T Jingle Competition.
He is one of the many artistes signed to Kross Kolor Records, and with his song writing skills, he has penned numerous songs for his label mates.
Being a well-rounded musician, ‘Ossie O’ also plays the acoustic guitar (which has become his trade mark), the recorder, piano and harmonica. In his leisure time, the singer sketches portraits and cartoons. He is also a music teacher by profession, with song writing being one of his strength.

While it seems like he has retreated into the shadows, his fans are still clamouring for more of his melodious ballads.
By Alex Wayne

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