SOWELL CHIKWARI
This month marks 31 years since the death of vocalist and guitarist James Chimombe.
Chimombe died on October 23, 1990.
His son, Davitah, who is based in South Africa, and his Ocean City Band, is set to release an album this week titled Chakuma, with a track dedicated to his late father, James.
The dedicated song is titled Tichazoonana.
The album was produced and recorded by Dumisani Sibanda at Underground Studios in South Africa.
The eight-minutes long track is a potential hit as it sends the late Chimombe’s fans down the memory lane back to the late 80s illuminating on his glorious musical career.
The project also features a collaboration with seasoned South African musician Freddie Gwala featuring on the track tittled Ndiri Ndega. Other tracks on the album are Deliwe, Usaenda, Munyambiri, Samson and Sinyoro venharo.
“Our new album project is already complete and will be released this week as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the life of our father James Chimombe on 24 October. We will be holding a commemoration gig here in South Africa to honour him on 140 Athol House, Victoria Street, Germiston.
“The commemoration gig will be graced by South Africa based musicians including Gwala, Tindo and Ano Music as well as DJs Firespitter, Masoup, Wizzy, Tunchy and Mister Noxxy,” Davitah told Business Times in a telephone interview.
The Kudakwashe hit-maker was born in Chivhu in 1950 and died on 23 October 1990 at the age of 39, after a glorious musical career.
His rise to stardom in the early 1980s was attributed to hits such as George Mudiwa and Chigwaya.
He had several albums under his belt by the time of his demise and some of his best known tracks are Siya Waoneka, Mavanga, Bindura, Muchiti Mugere, Jikinya and Cecilia.
