Red Banton rises from world of watchman to that of a star

By Sebidde Kiryowa RED Banton's Nonya Money, has made its turn in reigning Kampala's radio airwaves. It creeped up on us, then within a month, it was a major hit on radio. The young man behind this song is 21-year-old Red Banton (Tony Lubega). He earns his living by manning a night parking yard at Makindye Secondary School and Dee Jaying in night clubs. He says he was actually inspired by real life experiences. "I thought about how I brave the cold at night in that parking lot every night and all those tedious nights in discotheques trying to earn a living. This is what I was trying to relate," Banton says. In the chorus of the mega hit, Red Banton introduces himself as Tony and tells us he sleeps out in the cold because he is looking for money. Banton who says his rhyming style was inspired by American rap star Busta Rhymes' songs admits he had no idea he had a hit on his hands. The first major platform Banton got was at DV8 with his friend Allen Paul back in 1998. Banton was was lucky that DJ Rota, a professional music dealer was impressed by his performance at DV8. DJ Rota linked him up to Steve Jean, a producer, and decided to pay for the recording. The song was first played in Ange Noir Discotheque where it impressed CBS FM's director of music so much, he asked the club DJs for a copy. When CBS started playing it, the other stations joined in. Nonya Money soon skyrocketed to the top of Simba's Top 20 where it spent a record two months. It was also number three on the best songs of the year 2000. The song also went to the top of CBS FM's African Top 20. Red Banton says, apart from the sh3m he got when the copyright of the album was bought by Fred Mukubira of FM Music Studio, he has attained fame. Ends