RANGARIRAI Sagombeto’s dream was always to be a musician.
He approached one Bothwell Butau, who lived in the same neighbourhood in Dzivaresekwa 2 and was already into music working with Somandla Ndebele, to assist him in forming a band and all the process of recording in the studio.
“I had always wanted to be a musician, so I approached Bothwell Butau who already had the experience since he was working with Somandla Ndebele. He introduced me to Shephard Chinyani, who helped me to assemble a band,” Sagombeto said.
“When things were shaping up, I took Kelvin Chikore, my cousin, from the rural areas to be my backing vocalist. The band was now in place and I assigned Kelvin to go to ZMC Records with the demo tape since I was always busy.
“Kelvin became the link person with ZMC Records since they had been communicating with him. It happened that they called us to come for recording.”
He said during those days, Tymon Mabaleka was the producer and “as soon as we arrived, he ordered the lead vocalist to enter in booth one”.
“Mabaleka was shocked to see me entering booth one and asked why I had entered because he thought Kelvin was the lead vocalist,” Sagombeto said.
“The recording went well although there were some challenges here and there.”
- The mystery behind the name R&K African Sounds
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After recording his first album Dama Rakanaka (1999), Sagombeto waited anxiously to hear songs on his album being played on the radio “as this was my biggest achievement”.
“One day, I was relaxed at home and for the first time, one of my tracks, Tina, was played on radio and I was only shocked to hear the DJ saying ‘a song from R&K African Sounds’,” he said.
“I was the band leader and I had named it the Combined Effort band. I really don’t know where the name R&K African Sounds came from.
“It must have been Mabaleka after taking initials of our names. I wrote all the songs on the first and second album.”
The original band had Sagombeto (lead vocals), Kelvin Chikore (backing vocals), Shepherd Chinyani (bass), Augus Handson (rhythm), Simba Chinyani (drums) and Thomas Madziti (lead).
