HOMEBOYZ TO LAUNCH ARTISTE AGENCY

Entertainment house, Homeboyz will soon be launching and artiste agency to be headed by event organiser Situma Jones.
The agency dubbed VAT - Value Added Talent - will be a booking agency of choice for most musicians and entertainment practitioners in Kenya.
So far the acts signed up include Abbas Kubaff, Allan Aaron, Amani, Atemi Oyungu, Avril, Big Pin, Bobby Mapesa, Cannibal, Chizi, Collo, Daddy Owen, DNA, Eko Dydda, Eric Waninaina, Habida, Juacali, Longombas who are based in the UK and Marya among others.

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ STAR BOBBY RICKETTS FOR KENYAN CONCERTS

American saxophonist, Bobby Ricketts, will perform in Kenya for the first time this week, joined by a Kenyan songbird, Atemi Oyungu.
The Nairobi show will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Upper Hill on Thursday, May 13, followed by the second appearance at the Continental Resort in Mombasa on Saturday, May 15.
The Berklee Alumnus based in Denmark is one of the most original saxophone voices of our time. During his performances he will provide a cocktail of sensual, earthy horn playing and sultry grooves, creating a warm and soothing atmosphere.
Ricketts started his musical career in Boston. Winning numerous awards at school-to-school jazz band competitions, he was voted 'Musician of the Year' by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association while still in high school. Later that year, he was chosen as one of the finest musicians on the East Coast, participating in the All-Eastern Music Conference in Washington, D.C. Ricketts was then awarded a college
scholarship by the Boston Jazz Society, becoming the first-ever recipient of this award. He went on to study at Berkley College of Music, playing in the prestigious Berkley Recording Band. After completing the 4-year degree program as an honor student, Ricketts moved to Copenhagen. There he quickly became a household name, often
performing with the biggest names in the global music industry.




Check out Bobby Ricketts "Skin To Skin" on Myspace

ATEMI SIGNED TO UK LABEL

Gatwitch Records, a UK-based label, founded by Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal, has signed Kenyan neo-soul and Afro-fusion artist, Atemi Oyungu.
The label that operates in London, Nairobi and Juba, is also home to gospel rapper Juliani and Sudanese world music artist, Nyaruach.

Afro-diva Atemi released her first solo single, Happy, in 2004. In 2008 she launched her debut album, Hatimaye.
That said, she is not new to the music scene. The singer made her mark on the music scene with the defunct all-girl group, Intu.
In 2003 Atemi joined Eric Wanaina, as an assistant vocal harmony provider for his Mapinduzi band. Together with the Eric and the band she performed in Zimbabwe, Ghana, Zanzibar’s Sauti Za Busara Festival, Holland’s Festival Mundial and North Sea Jazz Festival, on Big Brother Africa, in South Africa and at the Annual German Ambassadors Conference in Germany.
She also played a major role in Wainaina’s musical stage production, Luanda, and later in Wainaina’s biggest theatre production yet, Mo Faya.
Atemi who has been hosting an all-Africa TV show, Africa Rising, since 2009, not only gets a recording deal, the label will provide marketing, distribution and event organizing for her.
Gatwitch Records recorded Juliani’s 2008 hit album Mtaa Mentality.