He was born in the city but grew up in Dangriga, where he developed his own hybrid musical style with Afro Caribbean notes and a little splash of Jimi Hendrix. And now at the age of 78, Bredda David Obi and his band Tribal Vibes are set to perform at the Bliss. Jomarie Lanza met with the musical icon today and he shared more about his music and career.
With almost 60 years of experience in the music industry, The King of "Kungo Music" Bredda David Obi will be performing at the Bliss next week Friday, joined by his band Tribal Vibes. The concert promises to be a defining moment in his long and celebrated music career. And he told us more about his journey as a musician today.
Bredda David Obi, Belizean Artist
"The inspiration came through from NICH right that this was a good time and when the minister mentioned it to me I said perfect because when the time comes the time comes and you know it and as I heard it I said yes this seems like a good time to share the music with the people. We had musicians available and we have a nice place to share the music and we also have a very good sound system and that is one of the keys things."
"We have the drums to start with we have the set drums we have the percussions because the African beat always starts with the drum and of course we have my guitar my unique guitar which consistent of a lot of range because my personal life as a guitarist has been a lot of music so you can hear rock in the music, you can hear blues in the music you could hear soul in the music all of this comes through the guitar. We have the base quite naturally and we have the back up singers female backup singers and my son will come and play the drum set and he has been with me from the time the band started right and keyboards."
Bredda David says that he was fortunate to enter the industry at a time where he could garner inspiration from so many other successful musicians. He says he immersed himself in his craft and never looked back until now to see all he has accomplished.
Bredda David Obi, Belizean Artist
"Well if you are a musician and you love it right and it is apart of you and who Jah chooses no man curse so I realised I was a musician I got rewarded as a musician I love doing it and this is what I do everyday, I almost have no choice, and until they say brother David you have done your part then I will stop. But we have one of our latest releases. That says we won't stop so until Jan says it's time to stop then we will continue doing our music."
"Growing up in Dangriga it was only music and drums all the time and as I got older I got in an environment with guys like Chuck Gladden from the messengers the early messengers and the first young lady who helped me was Ms Erica Mcsweeny, I'm just fortunate to be at places that inspired me, I was there when Jimmy Hendrix was there so I learned a lot from him. I was there when Peter Tash, I was there when Bob Marley came so when you are at a spot where certain evolutions are happening in the world like today and how the afro sound is going on in the world, heavy afro sound going on in the world if you are there right now like how I am right now its a hell of an inspiration."
The Show takes place on Friday August 15th at 7:30 pm, Tickets can be purchased at the Bliss Box office
