EPK —
Chris Oledude: Evolution Of An Artist
Chris Owens is a Puerto Rican-born artist with a songwriter’s lifelong dedication to truth-telling. Part of a creative family, Chris grew up harmonizing with his two brothers in a household where classical, folk, pop, funk, and protest music all had a place. His mother, the late Ethel Werfel Owens, was his first music teacher, and his father, the late Major R. Owens, was a librarian-turned-elected official.
In the 1980s, Chris performed on the streets of New York City, in dance bands, and with his brother Geoffrey Owens (yes, that Geoffrey Owens). His only album-length cassette, 1984’s Anyone’s Revolution, voiced frustration with the Reagan era and caught the attention of family friend and folk icon Pete Seeger, who encouraged Chris to continue writing songs promoting peace and social justice and to collaborate with like-minded artists. Chris joined the People’s Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle. Over the next 35 years, however, Chris was more involved with civic and political activism than “cultural work”.
The death of Chris’s father stimulated Chris to form a band with his brothers to perform again. But it was the death of his wife, Sandra Dixon, that led Chris to re-examine his life and reconnect with music in a new way. In 2020, reborn as “Chris Oledude”, he re-emerged in the digital age with a renewed mission: to blend “old school” genres – particularly pop, funk, and R&B – with the urgency of these times.
Chris Oledude’s song-video tribute titled George Floyd: Say Their Names (Alyssa Dann, Director), earned more than 150 film festival accolades around the world. Looking ahead to his first album, Oledude continued to develop songs, including Orange Blues 24. Originally recorded in 2020, “OB24” is a blistering blues jam. The stop-motion video, crafted by creator/director Alyssa Dann over the course of a year with 2,000 photographs, has also earned numerous awards from film festivals. Oledude’s early 2025 release, No Crowns For Clowns, is a powerful critique of the political environment and is also accompanied by a video.
Now, the newest singles, “Turning Tables” and “We Will Get Through This”, are turning everyone’s heads!
With the release of his debut album, PREACHER MAN – VOL. 1, Oledude takes us on a journey from disturbing troubles to eternal hope. Oledude brings rhythm, roots, and righteous storytelling to the airwaves through a set of songs from multiple decades. If you’re seeking the right music for these times, listen to Oledude. If you’re seeking a guest who brings lived wisdom and creative fire, Oledude is ready to roll.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
ABOUT
PREACHER MAN - VOL. 1
“Chris Oledude’s Preacher Man, Vol. 1 is not just an album; it’s a revival. The project is a culmination of decades of artistry, reflection, and activism from a musician who has lived through, and sung through, the turbulence of modern America. Born Chris Owens in Puerto Rico and raised in a deeply musical and socially conscious family, Oledude channels a lifetime of experience into an album that fuses groove with purpose.
From the opening moments, layered with ambient sounds of nature and a resonant voice calling out for freedom, you know you’re entering sacred territory. The first song sets the tone: soulful, introspective, and unafraid to wrestle with hard truths. Oledude’s vocal presence is rich and commanding, but never overbearing; it feels like he’s guiding a congregation through both sorrow and celebration.
Throughout the record, Oledude balances heartache with hope. Songs like “The Choice” and “Save the Children” confront systemic injustice and moral responsibility with lyrical precision and emotional weight. In contrast, “Rainbow Soul” and “If a Woman Had Made the World” bring joyful energy, built on funk-infused basslines, tight harmonies, and infectious optimism. These songs groove while carrying messages that stick long after the rhythm fades.
“Orange Blues 24,” one of the standout tracks, hits with raw urgency. Its blistering blues riffs and defiant tone recall protest traditions of earlier generations, yet it feels entirely of the moment. “No Crowns for Clowns,” meanwhile, pairs biting political critique with sharp, modern production. Both pieces demonstrate Oledude’s skill at translating righteous anger into art that moves the body as much as the mind.
Production-wise, Preacher Man, Vol. 1 shines. The mixes are clean and dynamic, with clear separation between instruments. Bass lines are warm and defined, while the layered vocal arrangements, sometimes choral, sometimes conversational, create depth and texture. Spoken-word passages appear throughout, offering moments of reflection amid the rhythmic pulse. The transitions between songs feel deliberate and cohesive, allowing the album to play like a continuous narrative rather than a collection of tracks.
There’s a deep reverence for musical history here: traces of classic soul, gospel, funk, and folk are interwoven into Oledude’s contemporary sound. The result is a sonic tapestry that nods to artists like Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, and Gil Scott-Heron, yet speaks with Oledude’s own unmistakable voice.
What makes Preacher Man, Vol. 1 so striking is its sincerity. This is the work of an artist rediscovering his purpose through sound. Every lyric feels earned, every groove intentional. Oledude has transformed grief, activism, and love into something deeply human and spiritually elevating.
In an era hungry for authenticity, Preacher Man, Vol. 1 stands tall, a vibrant, fearless collection that reminds listeners that music can still heal, challenge, and inspire. It’s a record that doesn’t just speak truth to power; it invites power to listen.
SCORE / Excellent – In the end, Preacher Man, Vol. 1 feels less like a debut and more like a long-awaited homecoming. Chris Oledude reclaims his voice not just as a musician but as a messenger, bridging generations, genres, and struggles with honesty and heart. His songs remind us that rhythm and resistance can coexist, and that hope can still move mountains.”
- Chloe Tiffin-Gearin Music Review World (11/12/25)
“Quite monumental, stirring, spirit raising. Love the intricacies of the arrangements …”
- - BEV GRANT - SINGER-SONGWRITER, AUTHOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, ACTIVIST (NYC)
“I've listened through Chris Oledude's debut album, PREACHER MAN - VOL. 1, several times. The collection of 11 pieces has a strongly political tone, so it is well-titled! More importantly, I am very, very impressed. I can hear the months of work put into the production. I like the way the tunes flow into each other. The many layers of vocals and instruments serve valid musical purposes, as does the complexity of the arrangements. The EQ balance is clear and shows no issues. Likewise the instrumental balance. The bass parts, always a challenge, are clear and strong but not muddy. A pleasure to listen to, this album highlights Chris Oledude's passion for social justice and his talents as a songwriter, arranger and singer. I look forward to hearing more!”
- - Warren Shaw - Drummer, Teacher, Audio Engineer (NYC)
Music
Videos
Questions:
From Chris Owens to Oledude:
What inspired you to reinvent yourself as “Oledude,” and how has your music evolved through that transformation?Legacy of Protest Music:
You were encouraged by Pete Seeger and have deep ties to political music—how do you see the role of activist songwriting today?Behind “George Floyd: Say Their Names”:
Your first music video earned over 150 awards. What was the creative process like, and how did it feel to see that impact?PREACHER MAN – VOL. 1 and Beyond:
Can you tell us what themes or stories are driving your upcoming albums—and why now is the time to release them?Brooklyn Roots, Global Message:
Growing up in a politically engaged and musically gifted household, how did your upbringing shape your approach to art and activism?Music After Loss:
You’ve shared that losing your wife during the pandemic was a turning point. How did grief inform your creative process?What’s Next for Oledude?
Beyond the albums, what’s on the horizon—touring, new collaborations, community work?
TRIVIA:
Chris Oledude's musical influences include Bach, Beethoven, The Beatles, Elton John, Jethro Tull, Prince, all of Motown, Earth Wind & Fire, Kansas, Phil Collins, Parliament Funkadelic, The Ohio Players, Steely Dan, Led Zeppelin, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...
Chris Oledude's first piano lessons were on an Acrosonic upright piano bought for his mother, Ethel, by his grandmother, Lena, when Ethel was 16 years of age. That was back in ...
Chris Oledude attended his first real "rock concert" at the old Boston Garden in 1977 and saw Chicago. Prior to that, the biggest concert he had attended was an early Clearwater Festival near Poughkeepsie, NY. There, he first heard Arlo Guthrie perform “Alice's Restaurant”.
As a high school student, Chris Oledude performed at Carnegie Hall, singing baritone with the St. Cecelia Chorus. He also played at Avery Fisher Hall (Lincoln Center) as a cellist with the All-City Orchestra.
The most important holiday in the Owens household, as Chris grew up, was Passover.