The Sunday Mail
Like most sound houses and dancehall movements, their journey began in the ghetto where all they wanted was to become popular.
The dusty red streets of Warren Park D proved to be no hindrance to them.
But slowly, the name Platinum Entertainment grew, attracting the attention of up-market venue owners, music lovers and the Press.
They have gone on to conquer plush venues in the capital’s affluent suburbs and are now a force to reckon with.
In a first for the young sound house, top Jamaican artiste Kalado — real name Eton Gordon — will make his first stop at their home, Beer Engine, when he arrives in the country on September 11 for his show two days later.
Platinum Entertainment, formed in the dusty streets of the same ghetto where another major sound house — Judgement Yard — also won many hearts in its formative years, hosts the welcome party for Kalado.
The Make Me Feel singer performs in the country on September 13 at the Old Hararians Sports Club, supported by an array of artistes, among them Winky D, Killer T, Dadza D, Shinsoman, Toky Vibes and Lady Squanda.
But before the Jamaican performs at the long-awaited show at the Old Hararians, major sound houses, which include Judgement Yard, Mighty Ducks and Digital One International, will entertain the Jamaican and his entourage at a welcome party at Jameson Hotel.
Platinum Entertainment boss Spencer Madziya has promised a red carpet event for the Jamaican star.
“This is Kalado’s first time in Zimbabwe and as you are aware ‘the first cut is the deepest’; so we will ensure that he gets the best of our hospitality,” declared Madziya, popularly known as Boss Spencer.
Boss Spencer, who is responsible for Platinum Entertainment’s monumental success and continued stay in the limelight, said his main aim was for his sound house to be an internationally recognisable brand.
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He said: “I had a dream when I discovered these guys in Warren Park, but they had their dreams as well. I saw talent in the youths — MC Big Dollar Bruce, DJ Yung Fresh, DJ Phatman and Sibs — and we left Mereki and started entertaining at The Red Bar now The Grain Lounge.
“From there, we moved on to The Beer Engine Jameson Hotel where we are now permanently based. We then started promoting and supporting urban music artistes by assisting them in album video launches and performances.
“This has culminated in the revival of urban grooves music and now we are into artiste management as we now manage Enock “Nox” Guni and other upcoming artistes,” he added.
The Platinum Entertainment boss believes that as his company continues to branch out and grow, “not even the sky is the limit” for them.
“There is no stopping us — just recently we started a new project at Motor Action Sports Club, which we call the Chill-out Sundays. People come there to braai and drink, while big and small artistes perform.
“We collaborate with many sound houses and this newest open-air joint is definitely going to change things in the capital and the entertainment industry as a whole,” he said.
Boss Spencer added: “Gone are the days when urban music (dancehall and urban grooves) were associated with young poor artistes.
“It does not matter which ghetto they come from — Mbare, Chitungwiza, Highfield, Mufakose, Kambuzuma or Mabvuku — we will empower them. We want to see them put food on the table for their families and compete with their international counterparts.”
