Chameleone’s long road to stardom
Jan 14, 2008
IT took a ‘heavy weight’ to knock out the boredom of Ugandan fans in this ‘dry’ January month. In a winning concert, Jose Chameleone delivered an apt 2008 gift to his fans at Kati Kati last Friday.
By Pidson Kareire
IT took a ‘heavy weight’ to knock out the boredom of Ugandan fans in this ‘dry’ January month. In a winning concert, Jose Chameleone delivered an apt 2008 gift to his fans at Kati Kati last Friday.
The concert dubbed Heavy Weight Katupakase, was the first of its kind in Uganda. Unlike most concerts where artistes play CDs and mime, Katupakase was live.
Ray C from Tanzania and other local artistes did well to whet fans’ appetites. The unique stage set-up gave the venue a fantastic panorama. Chameleone’s arrival on the stage was with true pomp: He parodied the heavy weight boxers in Las Vegas. His way to the stage was cleared by an intermittent volley of fireworks, which excited his fans. Dressed like a heavweight boxer, complete with a belt and crown which he matched with a white and black striped suit, he took his fans through a two-part perfomance. First he performed his old songs like Nekolera Mali and Dorotia then his latest songs like Katupakase that thrilled fans the most.
As a tribute to fallen artistes, Chameleone sang the late Philly Lutaya’s Nkoyee; and then Harmon Basudde and Paul Kafeero’s songs which sent the crowd into a frenzy. He performed for three hours, but left the stage when everybody was still seated, as if waiting for an encore.
But things have not always been this way for this tall lanky artiste, he has come a long way.
His singing career begun at Club Ecstasy in Banda and Colline Hotel in Mukono before going to Club Cadillac in Rwanda and Burundi. His biggest performance came when he was invited by Shanks Vivi Dee to perform at the late Lucky Dube’s show at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in 1999. When he returned from Rwanda and Burundi, Chameleone recorded a song, Forgive and Forget, with Shanks Vivi Dee, but it flopped.
Undeterred and also nursing a broken heart (he had just been dumped by his first girlfriend, Lillian Kembabazi). With a few clothes crammed into a suitcase, he tried his luck in Kenya. In Nairobi, Chameleone met Bebe Cool and an upcoming Kenyan artiste called Red San. Chameleone and Red San struck up a friendship and Red San who taught him Swahili. The three struggling musicians stuck together, sharing a small room in the slums of Kibera.
He teamed up with Red San and Ogopa DJs to record the low-selling single Mikono ju (Hands up).
In 2000, he recorded Bageya, his first album, featuring collaborations with Red San.
The title track was received with a lot of approval and airplay. Chameleone was barely known in Uganda, but was making waves in Kenya. He returned to Nairobi to record one of his earlier compositions, Mama Mia, with Ted Josiah, a leading producer. It was an instant hit.
Since then, Chameleone has had hits year-after-year. He has released eight albums in seven years.
A family man, Chameleone has two children and lives in Seguku on Entebbe Road. He owns a fleet of cars and a horse. He has achieved all he has from music.
IT took a ‘heavy weight’ to knock out the boredom of Ugandan fans in this ‘dry’ January month. In a winning concert, Jose Chameleone delivered an apt 2008 gift to his fans at Kati Kati last Friday.
The concert dubbed Heavy Weight Katupakase, was the first of its kind in Uganda. Unlike most concerts where artistes play CDs and mime, Katupakase was live.
Ray C from Tanzania and other local artistes did well to whet fans’ appetites. The unique stage set-up gave the venue a fantastic panorama. Chameleone’s arrival on the stage was with true pomp: He parodied the heavy weight boxers in Las Vegas. His way to the stage was cleared by an intermittent volley of fireworks, which excited his fans. Dressed like a heavweight boxer, complete with a belt and crown which he matched with a white and black striped suit, he took his fans through a two-part perfomance. First he performed his old songs like Nekolera Mali and Dorotia then his latest songs like Katupakase that thrilled fans the most.
As a tribute to fallen artistes, Chameleone sang the late Philly Lutaya’s Nkoyee; and then Harmon Basudde and Paul Kafeero’s songs which sent the crowd into a frenzy. He performed for three hours, but left the stage when everybody was still seated, as if waiting for an encore.
But things have not always been this way for this tall lanky artiste, he has come a long way.
His singing career begun at Club Ecstasy in Banda and Colline Hotel in Mukono before going to Club Cadillac in Rwanda and Burundi. His biggest performance came when he was invited by Shanks Vivi Dee to perform at the late Lucky Dube’s show at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in 1999. When he returned from Rwanda and Burundi, Chameleone recorded a song, Forgive and Forget, with Shanks Vivi Dee, but it flopped.
Undeterred and also nursing a broken heart (he had just been dumped by his first girlfriend, Lillian Kembabazi). With a few clothes crammed into a suitcase, he tried his luck in Kenya. In Nairobi, Chameleone met Bebe Cool and an upcoming Kenyan artiste called Red San. Chameleone and Red San struck up a friendship and Red San who taught him Swahili. The three struggling musicians stuck together, sharing a small room in the slums of Kibera.
He teamed up with Red San and Ogopa DJs to record the low-selling single Mikono ju (Hands up).
In 2000, he recorded Bageya, his first album, featuring collaborations with Red San.
The title track was received with a lot of approval and airplay. Chameleone was barely known in Uganda, but was making waves in Kenya. He returned to Nairobi to record one of his earlier compositions, Mama Mia, with Ted Josiah, a leading producer. It was an instant hit.
Since then, Chameleone has had hits year-after-year. He has released eight albums in seven years.
A family man, Chameleone has two children and lives in Seguku on Entebbe Road. He owns a fleet of cars and a horse. He has achieved all he has from music.