Ras Willie: Difference between revisions

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==Early life==
==Early life==
Ras Willie was born William Wamudambo Mbewe in 1970 in [[Kabwe]]. In the mid 1980s he changed his name to ''Ras Willie'' after listening to the sounds of Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and Bunny Wailer, and ultimately embracing Rastafarianism.
Ras Willie was born William Wamudambo Mbewe in 1970 in [[Kabwe]]. He was born in a family of musicians. His father is said to have been playing music to the local community during beer parties and his brother Charles was part of the [[WITCH]] band in the [[Zamrock]] era. In the mid 1980s he changed his name to ''Ras Willie'' after listening to the sounds of Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and Bunny Wailer, and ultimately embracing Rastafarianism.


==Musical career==
==Musical career==

Revision as of 14:26, 9 February 2018

Ras Willie
Ras Willie.jpg
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Wamudambo Mbewe
Born1970
Died2014
Lusaka, Zambia
GenresReggae

Ras Willie (born William Wamudambo Mbewe) was a Zambian reggae musician, composer, songwriter, percussionist and music engineer.

Early life

Ras Willie was born William Wamudambo Mbewe in 1970 in Kabwe. He was born in a family of musicians. His father is said to have been playing music to the local community during beer parties and his brother Charles was part of the WITCH band in the Zamrock era. In the mid 1980s he changed his name to Ras Willie after listening to the sounds of Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and Bunny Wailer, and ultimately embracing Rastafarianism.

Musical career

Style and influence

His style of music unique and energetic reggae style which blended jazz, rock, ska and rumba. He also had influences from the likes of Keith Mlevu, Blackfoot, Peace, Tinkles and Five Revolutions as well as WITCH, where his brother, the late Chris “Kims” Mbewe was the lead guitarist. As road manager for WITCH band, Ras Willie got a lot of Zamrock influence and fused it into his music.

Lunda Lunda album

His 2001 album Lunda Lunda won him several awards including Best Traditional National Award at the AZAMI Awards and a nomination at the Kora All Africa Music Awards. The title-track of the album talks about the Luba-Lunda migration with Ras Willie saying music was inspired by the mystics of Mwata Kazembe and the Mutomboko dance.

Songs of Joy album

In 1993, Willie released his first album Songs of Joy and was was distributed the world over by Teal Records. The album hit number one in Japan on the African music charts.

Discography

  • Luba Lunda — 2001
  • Songs of Joy — 1993

Death

A week before his death, he asked for friends to remember to pray for his mother who he said was not feeling well. Within that same week, he expressed sadness at the passing on of former National Soccer Team striker Dennis Lota. His death came shortly after he released his third album, Ras Willie and the Kings Rhythms Original Sounds of Zambia in Jazz.[1]

References

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