For former reggae band Third World drummer, GRAMMY Award-winning producer, music teacher, and cultural ambassador Willie Stewart, OD, music has a deeper meaning than just entertainment.

As he shared with Caribbean Life on Monday, Feb. 9, it is about survival, testimony, and service.
Jamaican-born, New York-based entertainment publicist Anthony “ER Guru” Turner said Stewart’s latest project, the humanitarian single, “Have a Little Faith,” brings that philosophy into sharp focus.

“The project was conceived after Hurricane Melissa ravaged western Jamaica,” Turner said. “It brought together some of reggae’s most beloved voices for a humanitarian cause and included JC Lodge, Leroy Sibbles, Glen Washington, and other reggae greats.”

After surviving Hurricane Gilbert in Jamaica in the 1980s, Stewart said he did not expect to experience another hurricane.
“Believe me, I never want anybody to experience it,” he said, revealing that that moment stayed with him and resurfaced decades later when Jamaica faced yet another natural disaster in Hurricane Melissa.

Former Third World drummer Willie Stewart.Photo courtesy Embrace Music Foundation/Willie Stewart

“When the storm hit Jamaica again, I was troubled,” Stewart said. “It knocked me out for two days. I kept asking myself, ‘What can I do?’ And something said to me, ‘but you’re a musician.’”
Then, he said the thought came to him: “Have a Little Faith.”
“It took me two months to get everybody together,” Stewart said. “Everybody donated their time – the artists, the musicians, even the publishing. Every dollar goes to Jamaica.”

He said proceeds from the song are directed through Jamaica Emergency Mission (JEM) to support relief efforts, with all streams and sales earmarked for rebuilding.
Stewart said the response to the song has been overwhelming, even before an official release.
“I’ve never seen feedback like this,” he said. “People say they feel it. Someone broke down in tears when they heard it.”

Stewart said that the reaction confirms what he believes is missing in today’s musical landscape.
“Songs of the heart, songs with sincerity – that’s what we need now – music that can touch your soul, your mind, your spirit,” he said.
Stewart hopes “Have a Little Faith” becomes a long-term reminder of collective responsibility.

“At the end, it says, ‘It’s up to me and you to make that change,’” he said, referring to the chorus line. “You don’t have to give everything. Caring alone makes a difference.”