Kelly Brown: Kenya’s Michael Jackson who composed hit song that still wows tourists 40 years later

Kelly Brown Photo: file

He was one of the few Kenyan musicians to gain international acclaim abroad. That is if you discount the successes of Fadhili Williams through his eternal composition, Malaika and Mombasa based, Safari Sounds band whose album, The Best of African Songs, still carries that coastal musical feel that still wows tourists over 40 plus years since its recording.

Kelly Brown, born Mohammed Abdulkarir Ali Bux in Mombasa was a local musical force of the 1970s and 80s. He fleshed his stage name from American Soul legend James Brown whom he adored.