Rainbow Soul marks a powerful and deeply personal return for Chris Oledude—formerly known as Chris Owens—, and it feels less like a comeback single and more like the unveiling of a life’s work finally stepping into the light.
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in a home where music was both art and conscience, Chris’s creative foundation was shaped early. Harmonizing with his two brothers, he absorbed a wide spectrum of sounds—classical precision, folk storytelling, pop melody, funk rhythm, and the moral urgency of protest music. His mother, Ethel Werfel Owens, was his first music teacher, instilling discipline and emotional honesty, while his father, Major R. Owens, a librarian turned elected official, modeled the inseparable bond between knowledge, service, and truth.
In the early 1980s, Chris lived music from the ground up—literally. He performed on the streets of New York City, in dance bands, and alongside his brother Geoffrey Owens, long before mainstream recognition entered the family narrative. His 1984 cassette, Anyone’s Revolution was raw, politically charged, and unafraid, capturing the anxiety and resistance of the Reagan era. Its message resonated far enough to reach Pete Seeger, the legendary folk icon and family friend, who urged Chris to continue writing songs rooted in peace, justice, and collective humanity.
That encouragement led Chris to the People’s Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle, placing him firmly within a lineage of activist-artists.
Yet for the next 35 years, Chris’s voice was more often heard in civic and political spaces than on records. His commitment to activism never wavered—but the songs never stopped living inside him.
Rainbow Soul is the moment those songs finally re-emerge. The track reflects an artist who has lived what he sings: resilience without bitterness, hope without naïveté, and unity without erasing struggle. The title itself suggests multiplicity—identity, culture, belief, emotion—held together by a single, enduring soul.
This release isn’t about chasing relevance; it’s about reclaiming purpose. Rainbow Soul stands as both a personal evolution and a continuation of a lifelong mission: telling the truth, building bridges, and reminding listeners that music can still be a force for healing and justice.
CLICK HERE TO STREAM | Chris Oledude's "Rainbow Soul" on Spotify.
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