THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVID KASYOKI WA MUTOO - KATITU BOYS BAND
On Tuesday, January 20th, 2004, David Kasyoki Mutoo, the then Band Leader of Katitu Boys breathed his last, bringing to end, an era of astonishingly formidable icon who was one of the most talented guitarists to have ever graced the Benga industry.
David Kasyoki was born around 1968 in Katitu-Manyatta- Kangundo. He was the fourth child to Mutoo Mbithi and Mary Kayoni. He was brother to the late Mueni, the late Syombua, the late Nduku and Mutambuki who is the only surviving Kasyoki siblings.
It is Mutambuki to whom Kasyoki owes his burst to the music scene. Although Mutambuki is partly disabled after being involved in an accident, he is the one who catapulted Kasyoki’s star after introducing him to some notable music stars back then. Mutambuki recalls that one afternoon in 1985, while doing his job as a cobbler (shoe repairer) in Tala market, he met Sila Munyao, he of Ngoleni Brothers where he mentiond to him about Kasyoki’s talent. Sila Munyao was instantly interested in meeting the young man. It is from Ngoleni where Peter Mwambi of Kyanganga boys noticed the young talent. He picked Kasyoki and brought him to Nairobi later in 1985 and that is how Kasyoki’s music career was launched. At Kyanganga Boys band, Kasyoki joined another notable star, Prince J Maingi and the two became bossom buddies. Both were very dependable composers and guitarists at Kyanganganga.
Kasyoki’s first known record was released in1987 and was recorded as a vinyl (isaani) titled 'Ndwi Muka' under Tsavo Records Label, 7 TSV 014 credited to Athiani Boys, which he co-founded with Peter Kisaa. Kasyoki wa Mutoo would later team up with Peter Kisaa, Bernard Musyoki Wakaitho, Peter Nguma, Peter Marashi and Joseph ‘Taller’ Munyao to form Katitu Boys Band in 1989 which went on to become one of the most formidable Bands in the region. They released hits such as 'Chokora', 'Cheza Na Katitu', 'Dr. Muia Wa Kalii', 'Chunga Pombe', Njeri My Daystar' and 'Mbiti Wa Kinzilo' among others.
In 1992, Kasyoki wa Mutoo won both the Kenya Artist of the Year award and the Kenya Album of the year with his “Cheza na Katitu” Album. The ceremony was held in Carnivore, Nairobi.
Kasyoki married Njeri Dayster and were blessed with two kids, Soft and Evans. It has also been rumored that he had love affair with other two ladies, Mwende and Kathini.
Kasyoki wa Mutoo will be remembered as the greatest guitarist in the Kamba Benga history. A story is told that, when he was young, he had a lot of spare time and a guitar, and he started to learn to play whatever was playing on the radio. He didn't know when there were two guitars playing at the same time, so he just tried to play both at once. He grew up to become one of the most gifted guitarists of all times. He was well versed in multiple music genres and he took his guitar prowess into uncharted territories producing stupendously magisterial Benga tunes and melodies.
In a very rhythmic way, he could play bass lines, chords and melody all at once, making his own arrangements for tunes. He is one of the few guitarists who could play the lead guitar to exactly match the lead vocalist. His playing style was so complicated that his songs are hardly played in live bands.
Continue Resting in Peace -David Kasyoki wa Mutoo
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The Kenyan Sounds. FEEL THE SOUNDS OF KENYA !!!
Welcome into a discovery of The Kenyan Sound through super talented acts (some still underground). They represent future sounds - very much reminiscent of the classics of yesteryears
They say Kenyan music clutches at straws for identity; that it’s a concoction of various sounds, difficult to classify under a singular umbrella. In fact, maybe that’s the beauty of it. The first half of the year has seen some exciting collaborations emerging in the Kenyan urban music scene, featuring Rhumba, Afropop, Trap and Gengetone, from seasoned acts to new entrants. Here is a glimpse at what’s constituting the playlist of Older Kenya’s listeners.
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The Kenyan Sounds.
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