ZIMBABWE is undoubtedly becoming more like a country of choice for many Jamaican musicians proven by the number of those who have performed here.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Barely four months after Jamaican reggae sensation Luciano performed in the country, another artiste, Charly Black, from the same country is billed to perform in the capital on August 8.
Born Desmond Mendez, Charly Black, a dancehall reggae artiste, is billed to perform at Long Cheng Plaza, Harare, courtesy of Digital 1 Sounds and Chipaz Promotions.
At the concert, Charly Black is expected to share the stage with local artistes, among them controversial Soul Jah Love, Kinnah, Freeman, Seh Calaz, Killer T and K Queen while on the turntables will be the likes of veteran wheel spinner Gary B, Templeman, Abisha Palmer, Merciles Zim and DJ Cables.
Are these so-called international artistes worth bringing into the country? This question has being asked many times by local citizens mainly in reference of the series of flops by some of these foreign acts.
On several occasions foreign artistes have come and returned humbled as their Zimbabwean counterparts exhibited lively sets. In an interview with NewsDay, Partson Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions confirmed the show saying preparations were at an advanced stage.
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“Yes, we have secured a contract with Jamaican artiste Charly Black, but I cannot say much at the moment as we are still processing the paper work with the relevant authorities and will give you more information as soon we finish the clearing process,” Chipaz said.
The Jamaican star has since confirmed his imminent Zimbabwe concert in a 36-minute video drop.
“I will be performing live in Zimbabwe on 8 August, big up to Digital 1 Sounds and Chipaz Promotions. Long Cheng Plaza I will be there live Charly Black in Africa Zimbabwe,” he sang.
A background check of the musician shows that he has in recent times been enjoying a lot of star treatment and has become a popular figure in dancehall music in Jamaica.
According to The Jamaica Online Star, Charly Black started singing, winning countless singing competitions at the tender age of five.
Before he started singing professionally, his first job in the music industry was as a selector. He recorded his first single Woman It’s You in 2004.
His determination kept him in the studios and in 2005 released Going To The Party, Back Shot Time and Bubble Charly Black stamped an indelible mark on the Jamaican dancehall scene with his hit single Nuff Nuff Luv which was released in 2007 on the Nuff Luv Riddim produced by Mark Bartley of Bass Odyssey Entertainment.
In 2008 he recorded Girl I Love You and in 2009 recorded Rich This Year which was reported to be a major success internationally and Money Dreama which also received fair airplay in Jamaica.
The musician has performed in New Jersey, New York, Texas, Florida, Boston, St Lucia, St Vincent, and has shared the stage with many acts that include Mavado, Bounty Killer, Junior Reid, Vybz Kartel, Tarrus Riley, Turbulance, Assassin, Jose Wales, Munga, Mikeylous and Dadda among others.
The growing popularity of reggae and dancehall has seen an array of Jamaican musicians, among them Beenie Man, Sizzla, Kalado, Turbulence, Mavado, Capleton, Lutan Fyah, Beres Hammond, Cocoa Tea and Fantan Mojah, performing in the country.
