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Dr. Mario Evon Guthrie is a singer/songwriter, podcaster, event host, creative and medical doctor. This Jamaican multi-potentialite recently opened his own medical practice, Eastwood Avenue Medical, while juggling all his creative pursuits as Mario Evon. Through his feature, we learn about his inspirations, journey, and how me manages to balance his academic life as Dr. Mario Guthrie and his creative life as Mario Evon.

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My younger years were defined by varied experiences, for which I am grateful.  They included regular trips to Westmoreland in rural Jamaica, where both my parents are from, and growing up in the parish of St. Andrew (which most people just call Kingston). The mixture of city living and rural exposure, paired with local and international trips, all came together to give me a very balanced perspective of Jamaica and the world.

Those “country” principles were always the cornerstone of our household. I really thank my parents for giving us enough rope/leeway while keeping us in check.

One of the childhood memories that I always remember was when my parents would put on music in the house and dance. My brother had a very eclectic taste in music. I followed him everywhere and in almost everything. Perhaps, through these moments, my love for music and performing, were birthed.

“I somehow ended up there”

My father is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and was the epitome of medicine growing up and the best example of medicine, through his bedside manner, and his approach with his patients. He set the standard for how we should treat and care for our patients. Seeing him practise truly inspired me. When it was time to select subjects for Sixth Form (the last two years of secondary school), I considered selecting business subjects but one of the teachers encouraged me to continue with the sciences.  I felt that she was trying to protect my father’s legacy, knowing I was the last chance, since my older brother had done business subjects.

My parents, however, contrary to popular belief, never forced me to pursue Medicine. Like most Caribbean children at the time, I was encouraged to become a “professional”.   I ultimately selected Medicine as a career since I figured it was the right decision to make but I never ever really wanted to become a medical doctor.  I somehow ended up there.

I began The UWI, Mona campus in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and then studied tirelessly to try to get into the Faculty of Medicine, as I was uncertain as to what else I could do.  My application was successful, but I was deferred for a year before starting, which gave me the opportunity to delve further into my creative desires. This is when Once on This Island and The Lion King happened.  The completion of the rigorous programme and becoming a medical doctor were great achievements for me, as it was no easy feat.

“One of the best decisions of my life”

After practising full-time medicine for almost two years, I decided to take a break to pursue music.  I applied and was accepted to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachussetts, USA.

Berklee was a place that truly validated my talent, allowed me to learn so much about my craft and helped me see my greater potential as a musician.

My family was supportive of my decision but like true Caribbean parents, they wanted to know “the plan” and what I hoped to get from the experience. As you can imagine, it was quite an investment. (In retrospect I know they are glad to have assisted especially knowing the joy and value the experience added to my life).

Like my parents, many others wondered what value I would have gotten from a music degree, but with dreams of being an international recording artiste and with no tools to do so, I figured Berklee would help to provide me skills in music business, songwriting and music production.

The experience did just that. It created a space to nurture and support my gift, thus allowing me to be around like-minded individuals. 

At the time, I couldn’t fully appreciate the network I would have developed or the super talented people I would have met, many of whom have gone on to have amazing careers in the music industry.

Apollo/X-Factor/The Voice and the spin-off benefits

Living in the US for a while allowed me to do auditions.  I made it to the final of four rounds at Amateur Night at the Apollo, winning rounds one and two and tying for 3rd in round three.  I had watched the show growing up and it was surreal being on the stage.  I also made it to a 3rd audition for X-Factor USA, which all happens before the TV rounds and I auditioned for The Voice, the same year that Tessanne Chin won, but I did not make it pass the audition.  All moments I am proud of. The release of my debut album, ‘Reggae-Soul Vol. 1: M.E. On Love’ in 2015, was likely one of the biggest personal projects I’ve ever worked on.  It was hard, but also loads of fun and a real learning experience.  I had a successful album launch in 2015 and I can tell you that nothing beats hearing an original body of work that you can call yours.

“Creating a rush of adrenaline”

There were also some spin-off benefits that I believe the music degree and my foray into entertainment, brought me. I hosted the morning show, CVM at Sunrise on CVM Television in Jamaica for about a year and a half.  I was first invited to be a guest, and before I knew it, I was a guest for three consecutive weeks, and then I had a job.  Morning television reminded me a lot of theatre.

The lights come on and you must perform in real-time. No retakes and no edits.  It was a great experience.

My presence on TV as well as being an entertainer led me to be asked to be an MC/host at events, which was also a new spinoff experience for me, and one that I really enjoy.  Again, it feels like a live performance, always creating a rush of adrenaline. The lights come on, everything begins, and before you know it, it’s over.

As an avid podcast listener, I had a desire to create my own and eventually took the plunge in 2019 with ‘Talk Truth with Mario Evon‘ which I dubbed ‘Inspir-Edu-Tainment’. I have no regrets. It’s been a great journey interviewing others and more than anything the interviews have taught me a lot about myself.

“Time passes without thought”

Of the two careers/passions, I love being in entertainment more, and that is simply because it makes my heart sing.  When I’m doing anything in the creative realm, time passes without thought.  I could even forget to eat if I’m fully engaged.  I could also see myself doing it for the rest of my life.

I enjoy aspects of Medicine, but if I stopped being a doctor, I’m not convinced I would miss it terribly.

At this stage in life, I am inspired by trying to find joy in everything that I do while trying to be emotionally and financially stable.  Life is too short to do anything that you don’t like or don’t want to do, but while balancing all your adult responsibilities.

I am also continuously inspired by my parents and how they came from humble beginnings and did well for themselves and are simply the beautiful humans that they are.

Their journeys always inspire me to push on when I’m feeling defeated.

In 2022, after working with my family’s practice, I formally registered my medical practice as Eastwood Avenue Medical Limited and I’m proud of that step.  Being a medical doctor who is also an entrepreneur, is a big step with huge responsibilities.

If I could speak to my teenage self, I would tell him to believe in himself and never give up or doubt his abilities, and most importantly to just go for it as nothing is truly guaranteed. Go ahead and try it because life tends to give you multiple chances to be great again.

If you are reading this and may be confused about your career path, I would suggest first determining what truly brings you joy, then looking at the steps to get there in a way that creates balance in terms of career joy while still being able to support yourself.

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Mario wishes to be remembered as a driven, fearless, balanced, and honest person who made the most of the life he was given, truly pushing it to its limits. Of importance to him is helping others truly find their purpose through their passions.