When Percy Masendeke was growing up in Bocha Mutare, music dictated his pastime. His makeshift drums created more interest to learn about music. Percy’s friend introduced him to the banjo guitar that was made from left over cooking gallons. It did not take Percy time to grasp the technique to play the banjo.
Sometime in 1996 Percy holding his musical skills with high esteem met Mike Moyo of Assegai Crew. Mike led Percy were they were carrying out their rehearsals in Mutare. Assegai Crew led by Stobart Chidikano went on to release a song that became a hit Amaibhoi from their album Zvese Mari. The band was so intact that Percy admired to pursue music as his career.
In 1997 Percy joined Hotline, a band that was resident at City Moto Moto in Mutare as a rhythm guitarist and drummer. Percy later moved to Harare where he got a job to compliment to his music income. Percy worked with several musicians that included Forster Mkwevo Ambuya Madhuve. Later on Percy joined Gift Amuli as a drummer and later as a backing vocalist. Percy stayed stayed for five years in Gift Amuli's band from 2006 – 2011. With Gift Amuli Percy travelled and played alongside some of the great musicians in Zimbabwe, the Late Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and Nicholas Zechariah.
Percy did not have a mind of leading his own band but it was the shift from the back to take up vocals in the front that further enlightened him he was capable. Percy gained confidence through exposure at the front. But he quickly accepted it was not easy to go solo. In 2013 he recorded his first album Simba Mukaka. To promote his new offering Percy did three videos on Siyawaoneka, Mudzimaiwangu and Tezvara. Inbetween 2015 and now he recorded singles Ngaende 2015, Zanondega 2017 and Rudo 2018. Currently Percy is promoting his 2020 album Ndezvebasa with 4 tracks.
While interviewing Percy I could pick his frustration over the lack of professionalism in the music industry. He decried the absence of recording companies which promoted musicians through music sales and relaxed recording contracts. The music industry has been turned to a rich man business yet art is derived from talent not means. I could imagine his exciting journey from playing drums he made from cattle skins and being strengthened by the Stobart Chidikano led Assegai being ruined.
Percy also lamented the lack of experienced music managers, he described most of them as chancers who just want the limelight that comes with managing a musical band. In fact the job of a manager is to take the burden of worrying where money will come from, especially when the band has music to give to fans.
“As musicians our job is to make music for our managers take it to the people”,
Percy said, as he pointed both stood to benefit if the market responds well. Music is billion dollar industry and sure lives can change from rags to riches.
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