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Quick Facts
Born
1969
1969
From
United States
United States
Journey
They call him the Godfather of Afro House. Osunlade answers by building worlds instead of chasing titles.
Born Christian Carlos Warren in St. Louis, Missouri, Osunlade’s musical life started early. Piano at seven, then drums, bass, guitar, and voice. At 17, he landed an improbable Hollywood break, composing for "Sesame Street" under Toni Basil’s mentorship. From there came mainstream credits with Patti LaBelle, Freddie Jackson, Najee, India.Arie, Eric Benét, and even Gerardo’s pop-era juggernaut “Rico Suave.”
The 1990s became a turning point. Disenchanted with industry mechanics, Osunlade stepped away and stepped inward. Travel, study, and spiritual grounding led him to Ifá, where he was ordained as a priest. That shift reshaped everything. In 1999, Yoruba Records was born, not merely as a label but as a belief system. Named after West African spiritual traditions, Yoruba Records became a sanctuary for rhythm-led, percussion-heavy, reverent dance music. It was followed by Ancestral House; anothr record known for deep house infused with spirit, ceremony, jazz, soul, and African memory.
His debut album "Paradigm," released in 2001, quickly earned him classic status. Projects like "Aquarian Moon," "Elements Beyond," "Pyrography," and "Spectrum" expanded the vision, while tracks such as “Envision,” later remixed by Âme and Dixon, crossed underground borders worldwide.
From St. Louis to Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Puerto Rico, and Santorini, Osunlade’s sound keeps moving, guided by rhythm, faith, and the quiet insistence that dance music can still mean something.