CELEBRATED multi-instrumentalist-cummusic producer Clive “Mono” Mukundu says his father’s blessing opened doors for his music career.
Mukundu, who owns Monolio Recording Stable in Harare, developed love for music at the tender age of nine. He went on to form his first band, Sarungano, in 1988 when he was 17 years.
A bachelor of music degree holder from Midlands State University, Mukundu has been a torch-bearer in the music industry which saw him produce for both local and international artistes.
Speaking in an interview with Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube on the platform In Conversation with Trevor, Mukundu said his father never wanted him to pursue a career in music but he politely refused to listen to him.
“My father was against me going into the music industry, he never liked it. Everytime he saw me playing any type of instrument, he gave me corporal punishment,” he noted.
“I made up my mind that I did not want to live his dream, I wanted to live my own dream, so I politely refused to follow his lead.”
However, 21 years after he showed interest in music Mukundu’s father finally capitulated in 2001 about his son pursuing a career in music.
“He only changed his mind when he called me on Friday, October 12, 2001. That is when he said you now have my blessings. I think you have proved that you can be a musician and lead a normal life with one wife and without children all (over),” he recalled.
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“As soon as he blessed me, doors started opening because I believe in parental blessings. That is when I started getting better jobs and later on, I was called by the likes of the late Oliver Mtukudzi and so forth. I think his blessing really opened doors for me.”
Mukundu reckons that the main reason behind his father not allowing him to join the music industry was that a number of musicians back then were a disgrace to the trade.
His son, Takakunda, has since followed his father's footsteps playing the guitar and has his backing.
Last week Mukundu released his sixth studio album titled Monosophy on the same day he celebrated his 53rd birthday.
Away from the studio and stage, Mukundu has authored three books namely Following the Melody, Poor and Famous and Man Vacuum.
