“I’m still new to the trade but I have this feeling that with hard work and determination I can be among the best in the country in terms of stage work and composing songs.
“I have written a number of songs that we are rehearsing with my father’s group.

“My aim is to release a well-baked album mid next year so that our fans will not be disappointed. We actually want to attract more dendera music followers,” said the soft-spoken Douglas, who is son to Allan.
At the moment he mostly plays renditions from his late uncle Simon Chimbetu’s work and some of his songs, much to the delight of the fans considering his execution on stage.

The crisp voice, diminutive frame and choreography resemble his late uncle.
His energetic stage performance defies the shyness that comes out offstage.
As Douglas dishes out his stuff on stage his father Allan follows with an eagle eye and a hare’s ear to the proceedings while seated close to the stage.

“I’m usually there to monitor his performances so as to guide him when necessary.
“I want him to be confident and perfect his act on stage. I will guide him with the experience that I have gained as a musician myself,” said Allan showing paternal pride in his voice.

Douglas said he will take any chance to learn in order to achieve a polished act as he is still a greenhorn in the business. The lead vocalist said that his musical interest started when he was still young.
He said that he was part of his school choir at Allan Wilson High and would partake in musical events.
Besides the school choir he revealed that he enjoyed church songs and gospel music by other musicians.

The interest motivated him to be a prominent member of the church choir.
His father Allan is a member of apostolic faith sect.
“I used to admire those who sang in our church a lot especially the elders.

“I imitated them in private and thought to myself that I was good.
“That gave me the motivation to join the church choir.
“I became a dominant member of the choir and I enjoyed it very much,” he said.

Asked on how he joined his father’s group, the young man said that he was initially employed as a doorman for the group but after a sold-out show in Redcliff, he persuaded his father to allow him to take up the microphone.
His father did not have problems with that probably because he knew his exploits in church.

“I was employed as a doorman for the band all along.
After a show which attracted a very big crowd in Redcliff I asked my father to allow me to learn the ropes with the mic.
“He agreed maybe because of my church choir experience.

“It was not very difficult to work with the band as I was already acquainted to members of the group.
“Besides the lead vocals I also play the bass guitar.
“My father is teaching me to play the rhythm guitar,” he said.

The soft-spoken dendera proponent says that Allan is his biggest support providing musical instruments and doubling up as the mentor.

He said that he wants to do a lot more learning exploring joint and supporting performances with the more experienced musicians.

In the recent past Douglas came to Sulu’s rescue at Jazz 105 when there was a mini revolt by the latter’s band members over pay and the inclusion of supporting act Jean Masters.
The upcoming musician believes that working with experienced voices and peers who have established themselves in the cut-throat music industry will edify his work.

“I’m prepared to learn more by working with experienced musicians like my father.
“Young musicians like brother Suluman (Chimbetu) and friend Peter (Moyo) who have done well in the industry will be helpful as well,” he said.

The shy but energetic frontman is of sober habits and is still single but it may be too late for the fairer sex to win his heart as he plans to marry his childhood sweetheart.

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