James Chimombe (1951–1990) was a

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

vocalist Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

and a

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...

. His career included stints with OK Success, the Acid Band, the Ocean City Band, and the Huchi Band. His music melded

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South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

n, and Congolese influences into

Zimbabwean music Zimbabwean music is heavily reliant on the use of instruments such as the mbira, Ngoma drums and hosho. Their music symbolizes much more than a simple rhythm, as the folk and pop style styled music was used as a symbol of hope for Zimbabweans ...

. James also worked American Country & Western sounds into his music, combining them with African horns and light, lilting guitar lines. James Chimombe is known as the Phil Collins of Zimbabwe . Had he been alive today, he would have been as well known as Tuku. Tuku and Chimombe are both sons of Highfields, aka Fio. His music was soulful and presented the heart of the Shona culture.

Biography

Chimombe got his start as a

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...

ist with

Thomas Mapfumo Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo (born July 3, 1945) is a musician nicknamed "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" (the praise name of his clan in the Shona language) for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his mu ...

and

Oliver Mtukudzi Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (22 September 1952 – 23 January 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Career Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, a ...

. He next moved to the Blacks Unlimited and OK Success. As one of Zimbabwe's first resident Congolese bands, OK Success recruited top Zimbabwean musicians and produced a string of hits in the 1960s and 1970s.

Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo (23 December 1945 – 9 May 2013) was a Zimbabwean nationalist, part of the first group of Gonakudzingwa restriction camp political prisoners, Pioneer Insurance Executive, Business magnate, Academic, philanthropist, cons ...

owner of Club Hide-Out 99 was instrumental in establishing James Chimombe who was the resident musician at Club Hideout 99. During the 1980s Chimombe led the Ocean City Band, and led the Huchi Band until his death. He also spent some time with the

Real Sounds of Africa Real may refer to: Currencies * Brazilian real (R$) * Central American Republic real * Mexican real * Portuguese real * Spanish real * Spanish colonial real Music Albums * ''Real'' (L'Arc-en-Ciel album) (2000) * ''Real'' (Bright album) (2010) ...

. He was fired from the Ocean City Band and the reason was never revealed to the public , he went on to form his own outfit Huchi Band that he led until his death, The two albums he recorded with Huchi Band were only released after his death. Chimombe is best known for his hit songs "Jemedza", "Kudakwashe", “George Mudiwa” and "Bindura". Chimombe was heavily influenced by

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

Stars especially

Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of funk band the Commodores; writing and recordi ...

. Chimombe and the OK Success band would during the week sessions sometimes sing and perform

at Club Hide Out 99 where he was the resident artist. Discography Albums: Nyamupfukudza, J Chimombe & The Ocean City Band Cecilia, J Chimombe & The Ocean City Band Mavanga, 1982, J Chimombe & The Ocean City Band Munakandafa,1987, J Chimombe & The Ocean City Band Zvaitika, 1989, J Chimombe & The Huchi Band Jemedza, 1990, J Chimombe & The Huchi Band Early Hits Best of Chimombe Greatest Hits 1 Greatest Hits 2 Greatest Hits 3 Singles Kudakwashe Botswana, J Chimombe & Huchi Band Ropa rangu Karigaduri, J Chimombe & The OK Success Sweet Caroline, J Chimombe & Acid Band Munhu, 1984 Mudzimu, J Chimombe & Acid band Zvingashure, J Chimombe & OK Success

Death

Chimombe is suspected to have been HIV positive. He was loved by the people of Zimbabwe, especially people from Highfields, Chitungwiza, Harare and Bindura.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chimombe, James 1951 births 1990 deaths Zimbabwean guitarists AIDS-related deaths in Zimbabwe 20th-century guitarists