An all-star reggae collaboration born from a desire to honor disaster resilience has claimed the number one position on one of South Florida’s most prominent reggae rankings, marking a heartfelt win for humanitarian art amid ongoing recovery efforts.
*Have A Little Faith*, the brainchild of former Third World drummer Willie Stewart and a collective of renowned Jamaican and Caribbean musicians, has reached the peak of the South Florida Top 25 Reggae Chart after making its initial chart entry back in February. The track, which assembled a roster of iconic and emerging talent including Leroy Sibbles, Carlene Davis, J C Lodge, Gem Myers, Dwisdom, Glen Washington, Wayne Armond, Alecia Marie, Carl McDonald, and Patrick Ulysees Pinkney, is far more than a commercial release—it is a tribute to the strength of Jamaican communities in the wake of devastating natural disaster.
The song traces its origins to October of last year, when Hurricane Melissa tore through southwestern Jamaica, leaving widespread destruction across multiple parishes. At the time, Stewart and his family were watching the recovery unfold from their home in South Florida. Struck by the unyielding courage of Jamaican people navigating the crisis, he began crafting the track as a love letter to their resilience.
“Three days after the hurricane, inspired by the outpouring of humanitarian aid and my wife’s suggestion, I realised I could contribute to the recovery effort by writing a song,” Stewart explained in an interview with Observer Online. “After sharing the idea with Steve Lane, we decided to build this project together, bringing in dozens of talented musicians who joined the effort even while navigating their own personal and professional challenges.”
Stewart co-produced the single alongside Ian Sanderson, with executive producer Steve Lane handling distribution via his Digital 1 Media Service. Beyond its digital release, the track got a high-profile live debut earlier this year: Stewart and his orchestra performed *Have A Little Faith* at the 2025 Rhythms Of Africa festival, held April 18-19 at the Miramar Cultural Center in South Florida. The festival, which Stewart has curated and produced annually since 2010, carried the theme “Run di Riddim: Every Beat For Jamaica” this year, with all programming centered on supporting post-Hurricane Melissa recovery.
In addition to the headlining performances from Stewart’s collective, J C Lodge, and Gem Myers, this year’s event included a moving tribute segment to three giants of reggae: the iconic Jimmy Cliff, celebrated guitarist Stephen “Cat” Coore—Stewart’s former bandmate in Third World—and legendary drummer Sly Dunbar. Coore passed away in November 2024, followed by Dunbar in January 2025, making the tribute a bittersweet celebration of their enduring contributions to reggae music.