The Sunday Mail
Mtandazo Dube
FORMER radio presenter and showbiz guru, Dennis Wilson, has taken the Zimbabwean reggae scene by storm.
The versatile entertainer has decided to show the world that he is also a talented vocalist by joining hands with red hot reggae band, Transit Crew, which plays at Legends Bar and Grill every Friday.
From the moment he gets on stage, all hell breaks loose. He belts out some classics from Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, Aswad, Third World, Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown, to name but a few.
Last week, music lovers went wild when he plaid “Push Come to Shove”, which was his signature tune back in the day when he used to host the reggae session on the then Radio 3 (now Power FM).
“It all started when I jumped on stage while Transit Crew was performing and did a few tracks. The response from the crowd took me by surprise and whenever I went for a gig after that, the band would invite me to join them until I began to fully enjoy the vibes,” said Wilson in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail Society.
Wilson, born Delroy Wilson, in Kingston Jamaica, has been a music man from a tender age.
“Back then, my young parents would put us to bed when going next door where there was a dance hall. Back in the day the music was called blue beat. I would sneak out and climb onto a nearby tree and watch from there. I would see people enjoying themselves on the dance floor.
“This fascinated me a lot and soon my parents knew what I was up to, so whenever they came back from the dance hall they would pass by the tree, I would come down and go to sleep. It was through these experiences that I realised show business was in my DNA,” he said.
After moving to London, Wilson joined a small sound system and his love for reggae music grew immensely. When he moved to Zimbabwe in the ’80s, he was spotted while playing at parties.
Wilson was invited to join radio and he managed to distinguish himself as a DJ. His reggae sessions were a must listen. His Jamaican accent also fascinated many.
He believes that reggae music is “huge in Zimbabwe” and the fact that an influx of Jamaican artistes are invading the country every year is a clear testimony to that assertion.
Wilson said while he enjoys collaborating with Transit Crew, he will take his time before deciding on whether to join hands with them permanently.
“Let’s have fun whilst it lasts and see what the future holds for all of us. I am grateful that Transit Crew has given me an opportunity to show the people what l am capable of as a vocalist and I also thank the fans for showing me much love and support,” he said.
Transit Crew band manager Taonga “Ras TK” Mafundikwa said, “It is an honour to have Dennis in our midst as he adds a lot of value to what we do as a band. Our music appeals mostly to the mature. The fact that Dennis is old school makes our set even more special and enjoyable to our hordes of fans who come in great numbers to our shows.”
