Veteran artistes excite fans at biography launch

By GEORGE ORIDO

He rises from his seat at the high table and walks towards the podium with a dignified persona to a thunderous applause. The excitement is palpable as he readies himself to belt out the evergreen hit, Lunch Time.

Veteran musician Gabriel Omollo performs the number, Lunch Time, during the launch of the biography on local musicians. [PHOTO: GEORGE ORIDO/STANDARD]

The instrumentalist go to work and soon his soulful voice comes over the public address system. The house goes wild.

Clad in a grey suit and his trademark hat, veteran musician Gabriel Omollo’s persuasive voice is unmistakable and his mastery of benga tunes truly legendary.

Although Daudi Kabaka, who played the lead guitar in the song, is not present to give it its original touch, the assembled band today is just as great.

Some of the audience members get on their feet, responding to the bewitching lyrics of the evergreen hit.

As he belts out the last line, there are wild cheers from the audience comprising political leaders, artistes, producers and other dignitaries.

This was one of those rare occasions that Omollo has travelled from his Ugenya home to perform in a city he made a mark on many years ago as a young musician.

Series of books

In 1976, Omolo was awarded a Golden Disk Award for sale of over 250,000 records. His other rhumba hits include Argwings Hero National, Mr Kupe and Tom Mboya.

On this night, the Permanent Presidential Music Commission is launching a new book, A Biography of Kenyan Musicians – a first in a series of books to document the life, works and times of Kenyan musicians.

After brief remarks by some of the guests present, it is time to welcome on stage another music legend, Joseph Ngala, popularly known as Mzee Bango, for more riveting tunes from the eighties. Ngala will take guests down memory lane with his popular number, Naitaka Bango.

Ngala’s vocals are as strong as they were in his heydays in the 80s, and it is not hard to tell why he is the ‘father of Bango’.

Initially, Ngala used to perform alongside his eldest son, Sidney Kilonga, who played bass guitar and Jimmy Mjimba (drums).

One day, however, after a successful show at a wedding in Kilifi, Ngala’s younger brother, Jimmy Dzimba (a guitarist) asked him if he could join them. Ngala agreed and Teusi Five Band that would go on to produce some of the most memorable hits from the Coast came into being.

Some of the timeless songs by the band include Kesho Ndugu, Samba, Davi na Vera, and Harry na Yvonne. Both Davi na Vera and Harry na Yvonne celebrate love.

As the evening wore on, there were more speeches to make and even more alluring melodies to listen to music. Love him or hate him, Thomas Wasonga captured the imagination of many Kenyans with his patriotic songs whose popularity peaked in the late 80s and early 90s.

When his turn to do what he does best came, he did not need a band or a backup team to set the house afire. His number Tushangilie Kenya more than captured the theme of the occasion.

Massive popularity

Like the German Classical Music genius, Ludwig van Beethoven, Kenya’s own Arthur Mudogo Kemoli listened to his music blind.

His visual impairment though could not stop the now aging musician from dancing to the tunes of Safari ya Mbamba, which he arranged many years ago.

At the launch, Kemoli who is also a noted Music scholar, could not hold back tears when the Taifa Choir, consisting of former members of Muungano Choir, sang one of his numbers. The PPMC Director Rufus Thuku said the commission published the 12-chapter book to bridge the knowledge gap about local musicians.

Other musicians profiled in the book include Mary Atieno Ominde of the Adamu na Eva fame, Paul Mwachupa Mwazera, George Ramogi, George Mukabi, Kakai Kilonzo, Daniel Owino Misiani, Habel Kifoto and Joseph Kamaru.