AFRO-jazz singer Gary “Tight” Muponda shrugged off the weight associated with reincarnating the talented Sam Mtukudzi, playing a cameo role at the late musician’s tribute concert on Friday at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
The concert saw the release of Sam’s 14-track posthumous album titled Misiirwa mastered at Pakare Paye Studios, with Gary Tight performing some of the songs.
Although top musicians, Alick Macheso, Sulumani Chimbetu and Jah Prayzah performed at the concert, it was Gary Tight, who was the centre of attraction, playing cover versions of Sam’s songs with aplomb.
Gary Tight said he was excited at the same time afraid at what seemed like a saunting task.
“It was not that easy to take such an important role at a concert of such magnitude as we commemorated the death of my role model, Sam. As someone, who puts on a size five shoe and is given a size 10, it was not an easy task to take part in honouring my role model, who inspired me a lot,” he said.
Gary Tight, who plays both the mbira and guitar, left those who attended the concert with no doubt that he was the next big thing.
Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi saluted fans and partners involved making the concert a success.
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“The support we received today is proof that Sam was a good guy. He did not shame me, but made me proud and I believe those who came today are Sam’s fans although they might love some of my music,” he said.
The music legend, who also joined Gary Tight on songs Ishe and Amai, said he believed in the young musician, thus, the cameo spot they had given him and he had delivered to expectation. Legacy Building Leaders awarded Sam with a posthumous Legacy Building Leadership Award in recognition of his talent. Legacy chief executive officer, Charles Mugaviri said Sam was the youngest recipient of the award after Rungano Zvobgo, Hope Sadza, Ezekiel Guti, Eve Gadzikwa and Charity Jinya. “Sam was full of confidence and self-belief, which gave him courage to pursue his music career from a tender age. It is such confidence that inspired him to define himself and allow his talent to manifest,” Mugaviri said.
