Being a Story Tellers’ edition at Roast and Rhyme over the weekend, self-proclaimed music doctor Jose Chameleone revealed that the sacrifices he made during the early stages of his music career are the reason East Africa’s music industry is now commercial.
Chameleone said that during the 1990’s, opportunities to showcase talent were scarce and in a few places that had audience, people were not willing to provide the platform.
“I wanted to be different from others,” Chameleone said as he revealed that he came up with original rhythms that were totally different from the then popular Jamaican beats. He said this prompted him to relocate to Kenya where he eventually made his first hit Maama mia.
“I am a living legend not only in Uganda but in the entire East Africa. East African music is wealthy because I laid a good foundation,” Chameleone said.
The aspiring Kampala Lord Mayor brought the house down with a legendary performance that kept revelers to their toes. He took them back in the time with his hit songs like Kipepewo, Maama Mia, Jamila, Nekolela Mali, Vumilia, Bwosaba, Wale Wale, Dorotia, Basiima Ogenze and Bombocat among others.