{"id":5925,"date":"2026-03-10T23:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T23:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/10\/reggae-legend-willie-stewart-releases-have-a-little-faith-carrying-third-worlds-legacy-forward\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T23:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T23:40:14","slug":"reggae-legend-willie-stewart-releases-have-a-little-faith-carrying-third-worlds-legacy-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/10\/reggae-legend-willie-stewart-releases-have-a-little-faith-carrying-third-worlds-legacy-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Reggae legend Willie Stewart releases \u2018Have a Little Faith,\u2019 carrying Third World\u2019s legacy forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

Willie Stewart is not finished telling Jamaica\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

The former drummer of the legendary reggae band Third World has released a new single, \u201cHave a Little Faith,\u201d a humanitarian anthem grounded in resilience, unity and spiritual strength. For Stewart, the record represents more than new music; it is a continuation of a mission that began decades ago on stages around the world.<\/p>\n

As a key member of the Grammy-nominated group Third World, Stewart helped shape one of reggae\u2019s most influential eras. Known for blending reggae with soul, funk and pop, the band introduced Caribbean sound to international audiences and produced classics that remain staples in the global reggae catalog.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were brothers before we were a band,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cWe loved music, and that chemistry, that synergy is something you can\u2019t recreate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Formed in the 1970s, Third World emerged from a close circle of musicians committed to both discipline and collaboration. Their breakthrough album,\u00a0Journey to Addis, helped define a sound that was both polished and deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, carrying messages of love, spirituality and upliftment.<\/p>\n

\"Willie

Willie Stewart\u2019s single \u201cHave a Little Faith\u201d delivers a message of unity and spiritual resilience, encouraging listeners to hold onto hope in difficult times.<\/span>Cover art courtesy of Willie Stewart<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Today, Stewart stands as one of the two remaining voices from the band\u2019s defining era. With the passing of several founding members, the responsibility of preserving that legacy has taken on new meaning.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen one of them goes, it\u2019s like a silence,\u201d he said. \u201cYou realize everything becomes memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

That realization has strengthened his commitment to keeping the group\u2019s legacy alive through performance, education and storytelling. For Stewart, Third World was never just a band, it was a cultural force that carried Jamaican identity onto the global stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time we left Jamaica, we went as ambassadors,\u201d he said. \u201cWe carried the culture with us, and we took that seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave a Little Faith\u201d reflects that same spirit. Written in response to recent storms that devastated parts of Jamaica, the song brings together respected reggae voices in a call for hope and solidarity.<\/p>\n

\"Willie

Willie Stewart reflects on his decades-long career with Third World as he carries the band\u2019s cultural legacy forward with new music and performances.<\/span>Photo courtesy of Jason Cowell, Roaming Photo Studio<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t have faith, you give up,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cAnd once you give up, everything starts going downhill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stewart is preparing for upcoming performances, including his annual Rhythms of Africa showcase in Florida, where he continues to share reggae\u2019s message of resilience with new audiences.<\/p>\n

Decades after Third World first brought Jamaican music to international stages, Stewart believes the band\u2019s influence still resonates.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were ahead of our time,\u201d he said. \u201cReally ahead of our time.\u201d<\/p>\n

With \u201cHave a Little Faith,\u201d Stewart is ensuring that the rhythm and the responsibility continues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Willie Stewart is not finished telling Jamaica\u2019s story. The former drummer of the legendary reggae band Third World has released a new single, \u201cHave a Little Faith,\u201d a humanitarian anthem grounded in resilience, unity and spiritual strength. For Stewart, the record represents more than new music; it is a continuation of a mission that began […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5925"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5925\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}