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Full Name: Henry Kariuki Mburu
Music Background.
My Music Background goes back to when I was a young boy in Kenya, when I made my first 'wandindi' a traditional kikuyu one stringed instrument and would fiddle with it till I could play tunes I had heard on the Radio. My Parents never wanted me to become a musician cause of the obvious reasons; most musicians ended up becoming junkies, womanizers and losers in life and I was brought up in very strict christian family .
My music dream started coming true in the early 90's in Thika high school. I was involved in the Music Club as well as the Christian union, and that's when I started learning how to play the guitar. Back at home, I didn't own a guitar cause my parents wouldn't let me, so I used to smuggle the church's acoustic guitar and practice all night while they were asleep. This paid a whole lot cause I became better guitar player day by day. I started writing my own songs and recording them on a tape recorder just to hear myself.
In 2002, I lost my younger brother to cancer after a leg amputation. Reflecting on his life really broke my heart. This loss inspired me to follow my dreams and one of them is My Musuc. I was struggling financially(life in the U.S. sometimes), I wrote a song a song called 'mawazo' which is more like a cry to God to come to my rescue during my times of trials. I recorded the song at a studio I had just built and the song was very well received here in LA. I was featured as a guest Musician in a TV station called 'touching lives,' performing the song alongside the legendary jazz singer,Al Jareau.
I have since Performed in possibly every joint in LA, with different bands that normally hire me as a guitarist. I am also the Guitar Player for VEGA Band which has been touring around the US a lot. read more here
Influences
Jazz, Blues, Rnb, Latin Rhythms, Soukous, Name it.
Appearances
Milele(CD), Zion Music, Juan Boza(CD), Giovanni (CD) with Latin Grammy nominees Justo Almario and Abraham Laboriel, Nelly (Video)flap your wings, Will Smith(Video) ,with Badaue, Felix Mwangi's (CD), Jativa Reggae(CD), Badaue(CD), Gikonyo(CD), Touching Lives(TV Show), 88.9 FM (radio interview),KPFK 90.7 FM,VEGA "Jazz" Band(CD), Murder Mystery show(Theatre Cruise), just to name a few.
About the CD
My main goal is to touch people with the gift that God has given me, Music is powerful and can bring joy to those who are hurting and hope to the hopeless. My music is a journey, a blend of various styles topped up with cool soothing guitar licks. Stay tuned for the CD
The group
Karis(Guitar, Keys,Vocals)
Carol Nyaboke(Vocals)
Linda Kazibwe (Keys, Vocals) |
