Triple Door

216 Union Street

Seattle

August 5, 2008, Tuesday 9:30 PM

Buy Tickets online: US $25.00

OLIVER MTUKUDZI

Click HERE to check him out at MySpace.
Click HERE to listen him Now.

Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (born in 1952 in Highfield, Harare) is a Zimbabwean musician, one of the longest-lasting popular performers from that country. He began performing in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band which featured Zimbabwean legend Thomas Mapfumo. Their single, "Dzandimomotera," went gold and Tuku's first album followed, and it was also a major success. Mtukudzi is also a contributor to Mahube, Southern Africa's 'supergroup'.

Though Oliver Mtukudzi is, as Utne Reader writes, "one of the giants of African pop", he is much more than that in his native Zimbabwe.  Since his country gained independence in 1980, he has also persisted as a guiding socio-political force for freedom, justice and spiritual uplift.  He has accomplished this not just through his progressive lyrics.  His distillation of various Southern African musical traditions into a harmonious, modern sound promotes a unifying spirit to all Africans in the region.

For many years, Mtukudzi's art has been affectionately called "Tuku Music", after his nickname.  His guitar work reflects the mbira (thumb piano) style, filtered through South African mbaqanga (heavily featured in Paul Simon's "Graceland").  Rhythms often incorporated the Katekwe drum tradition of his Korekore clan.  Plus, he spices the recipe with the exuberant Zimbabwean pop of Jit and, presto, Tuku Music.

Mtukudzi has taken his message of clear-eyed hope and justice all over the world, but he has never forgotten his countrymen, continuing to tour to every corner of Zimababwe. After almost 50 albums, countless live performances and significant contributions to Zimbabwean film and drama, Oliver Mtukudzi continues to inspire worldwide with his potent fusion of joyous entertainment and social conscience. Bonnie Raitt, who has recorded several of his songs, puts it this way:  "The juxtaposition of what Mtukudzi sings about and his raw, imploring vocals reminds me of Otis Redding, Toots Hibbert and some of my favorite reggae, an odd pairing of agonizing, thorny lyrics over basically lighthearted music." More about Oliver Mtukudzi...