The group was formed in 1970 by bandleader Habel Kifoto and some other member. The next year they signed with Polydor Kenya[3] and released the hit "Emily".[4] In 1972 the band had a traffic accident, which left some of their members dead. After the accident the band was dormant for five years before releasing their album Riziki Haivutwi after 1977.[3] They also released the song "Charonyi ni Wasi", whose lyrics were written in the Taita language. "Charonyi Ni Wasi" became Maroon Commandos' first major hit.[5]
The band had a 10-year recording break which ended with the release of Shika Kamba album in 2007, released by the Sound Africa label.[2][6]
The band has had several line-up changes since its formation. Former bandleader Habel Kifoto retired from the military and was from 2009 to 2011 the chairman of Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).[7] Kifoto died on 31 July 2011 in Nairobi as he collapsed due to a suspected heart failure.[8] One of its former core members, David Kibe Left the band after he rose in the military ranks and had no more time for the band.[2] Another former member was Laban Ochuka, who also played for another army band, the Ulinzi Orchestra. Ochuka died in May 2006.[9]
^Daily Nation, 9 March 2009: Fat cheques for Kenyan musicians at last
^Daily Nation, 31 July 2011: Top Kenyan musician Kifoto dies
^Daily Nation, Saturday Review, 13 May 2006: Curtain falls on Ochuka
^Daily Nation, Saturday Magazine, 30 January 2010: Maroon Commandos march to their rhythm 40 years and counting
January 01, 1970
maroon, commandos, musical, group, from, kenya, military, band, belonging, kenya, rifles, kenya, army, infantry, kenya, army, they, based, langata, barracks, langata, nairobi, group, performs, benga, rumba, other, styles, music, they, perform, both, original, . Maroon Commandos is a musical group from Kenya It is a military band belonging to 7 Kenya Rifles Kenya Army Infantry of the Kenya Army They are based at the Langata Barracks in Langata Nairobi The group performs benga rumba and other styles of music They perform both original and cover versions 1 The band plays often at state functions 2 The group was formed in 1970 by bandleader Habel Kifoto and some other member The next year they signed with Polydor Kenya 3 and released the hit Emily 4 In 1972 the band had a traffic accident which left some of their members dead After the accident the band was dormant for five years before releasing their album Riziki Haivutwi after 1977 3 They also released the song Charonyi ni Wasi whose lyrics were written in the Taita language Charonyi Ni Wasi became Maroon Commandos first major hit 5 The band had a 10 year recording break which ended with the release of Shika Kamba album in 2007 released by the Sound Africa label 2 6 The band has had several line up changes since its formation Former bandleader Habel Kifoto retired from the military and was from 2009 to 2011 the chairman of Music Copyright Society of Kenya MCSK 7 Kifoto died on 31 July 2011 in Nairobi as he collapsed due to a suspected heart failure 8 One of its former core members David Kibe Left the band after he rose in the military ranks and had no more time for the band 2 Another former member was Laban Ochuka who also played for another army band the Ulinzi Orchestra Ochuka died in May 2006 9 ranks 10 Discography editTheir albums until 1991 were released by Polydor Kenya 3 and the latest albums by Sound Africa Riziki Haivutwi 1977 or later Dawa Nimuone Hani 1983 Pesa Maradhi Ya Moyo with Daudi Kabaka 1986 Hasira ni Hasara 1986 Bila Jasho Mwakaribishwa na Maroon 1989 Bonya Kuche 1990 Shikamoo 1991 Shika Kamba 2007 Kenya Unite Habel Kifoto amp Maroon Commandoes Greatest HitsReferences edit The Standard 7 August 2009 Soldier marches back to his roots Archived 17 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine a b c Daily Nation 12 February 2009 Maroon Back With Hit Album a b c Muzikifan com DISCOGRAPHY OF EAST AFRICAN MUSIC Part 2 POLYGRAM Kenya Muzikifan com MUSIC OF KENYA amp TANZANIA Simon Broughton Mark Ellingham Richard Trillo World Music Africa Europe and the Middle East Rough Guides 1999 Sound Africa Maroon Commandos Shika Kamba Daily Nation 9 March 2009 Fat cheques for Kenyan musicians at last Daily Nation 31 July 2011 Top Kenyan musician Kifoto dies Daily Nation Saturday Review 13 May 2006 Curtain falls on Ochuka Daily Nation Saturday Magazine 30 January 2010 Maroon Commandos march to their rhythm 40 years and counting Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maroon Commandos amp oldid 1208314245, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
