Alonzo

Alonzo Teah Abasi is a Liberian/Sierra Leone artist, widely known as “Alonzo.”

Incredibly versatile, his productions range from R&B, reggae, and Afrobeats’. He has accumulated a natural-born gift of sounding authentic in any genre he records. 

Born in Liberia West Africa, his parents are from the Kroo Tribe; his father was born across the border, in Sierra Leone, and Alonzo’s upbringing was divided between both countries. As a youngster, singing came effortlessly, he was inspired by artists such as Michael Jackson, R Kelly & Usher.

In 2002, The United States Embassy hosted a singing competition, with the concept of promoting HIV awareness. After entering, his talent came to light and he successfully won the competition. The accomplishment helped boost his confidence in knowing he was on the right path. Sponsored by the embassy, they helped in assisting him with his first single. Alonzo had a strong motivation and was committed to creating inspiring music.

Flying off to Nigeria to record his first mixtape, titled “Innocent,” it was also the name of one of the tracks. Songs like “Letter to the President, Liberian Angel, and Can’t Believe” unveiled his gift as an expressive singer/songwriter. In 2006, the mixtape was released in Liberia, gaining him huge exposure and admiration in his country. With a strong commitment to music, Alonzo continued to cultivate his unique style and in 2008, came to the attention of “Kalllbox Records” who are based in Sierra Leone. Captivated by his talent, they signed him and recorded his first studio album, “Africa Unite.”

The reggae song, “Angel” spoke about long-distance love, and became a smash hit in Sierra Leone, it catapulted his popularity in the country. What came next was the single “Africa Unite,” from an album with the same name. A song with uplifting words about the continent, it helped Alonzo gain credibility in America and the UK. In England, it led to Alonzo’s music being picked up by the BBC network, which aided him in accumulating a wider audience.

“The MTV African Music Awards” invited Alonzo to come to their 2009 show to represent Sierra Leone as one of the country’s popular artists. Performing at the pre-MAMA event, which was held in Kenya, he performed alongside artists such as Akon and Wyclef Jean. Since he gained traction on the music scene, Alonzo has continued to flourish. An innovative storyteller, he stands strong as a Sierra Leonean/Liberian artist who has attained various awards for his accomplishments in both countries.

• Best Male Artist at the Sierra Leone National Awards – 2012.
• Best Lovers Rock Artist – Sierra Leone -DJ Union Award – 2013.
• Best Reggae Artist” – SLM TV USA 2013.
• Special Achievement award – Contribution to Liberian music, Liberian           Entertainment Awards- Australia 2013
• Artist of the year -AWOL- All Works of Life 2014
• Artist of the Year Europe – Liberia Music Awards – Minnesota 2016.

With a succession of albums and singles, Alonzo has proceeded to go from strength to strength. “Dream Alive,” his second studio album was released in 2012, and the single, “Salone Party” was a runaway success.

Following his 2016 album “Overdose,” Alonzo has accumulated a solid fan base, and the singer has performed internationally with sold-out shows.

The mixtape, “Kroo-Town Road” filtered into becoming Alonzo’s 2020 album.

With songs like, “Who God Bless, Let Dem Talk,” the singer/songwriter aims high with his musical abilities; he is soon to release his 2024 album.

Richly creative; he is an enchanting lyricist, whose words of truth, rise from the heart. Alonzo has firmly established himself as an impressive Liberian/Sierra Leonean musical storyteller.

Havana White ©