Mr Fantastic is back with a bang

Standard Style
Gospel musician, John Mutoko has roped in Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu and gospel singer Mathias Mhere in his latest album, 1 Samuel 7:12 – Ebenezer – This Far the Lord has Taken Us.

Gospel musician, John Mutoko has roped in Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu and gospel singer Mathias Mhere in his latest album, 1 Samuel 7:12 – Ebenezer – This Far the Lord has Taken Us.

By Moses Mugugunyeki Mutoko, who is popularly known as Mr Fantastic, said his collaborations with the two artistes were in appreciation of their music.

John-Mutoko

“I have done tracks with Sulu and Mhere who are my friends and legendary figures. I sang with them not to amplify my fan base, but because I am one of their fans,” said Mutoko.

Sulu features in one of the most popular songs, Same Same neGomora, which is the opening track on the nine-track album. The song is receiving a lot of airplay on national radio stations and is popular in the UK.

“I’m impressed with the response the song, Same Same neGomora is receiving in Zimbabwe and the UK. Brother Mhere is also featured in two songs, Handisi Muchengeti Wake and Kuteerera Kunokunda Chibairo, which are also receiving a fair amount of airplay on radio stations in the country,” he said.

Mr Fantastic, who was born to pastors Bishop JT Mutoko and Gladys, started singing in church at a very tender age. “I started singing when I was very young and the musicians who inspired me were secular musicians. I had a lot of respect for the late Marshall Munhumumwe and Leonard Dembo,” he said.

After years of attempts, Mutoko finally recorded his first album, Mwari Vakatendeka in 2008, which had the popular song Tsvakai Jesu Murarame. The video of the song was also popular on national television.

“My second album — The Valley of Dry Bones — was released in 2009 and had this hit song Zvimwe Zvinoda Munamato. The album did extremely well,” said Mutoko.

“These were followed by two albums, The Voice of Silence (2009) and Adelante (Move on) in 2010. It’s now five years and I have released this new album 1Samuel 7:12 – Ebenezer – This Far the Lord has Taken Us. This is probably my favourite chapter in the Bible. I liked this verse since I was young and my understanding of this scripture has not changed 25 years later. I have even named my son Ebenezer.”

Mutoko, who is now based in the UK, roped in former Utakataka Express members — Aluwis Machapo, Paul Kuzinya and Elvis Gumorazvo, as well as Rogers Fatiya who once worked as Alick Macheso’s backing vocalist. The late Hohodza band leader, Simbarashe Mudzingwa was also part of the group.

“The message in the new album is that although we may go through difficult moments, there shall come a time when God will attend to us and show that he is the Lord upon whose sovereignty our destiny depends,” he said.

“I am in the process of shooting a video album, which I hope to launch in December when I come to Zimbabwe.”

Mr Fantastic wrote all the songs on the album, which was recorded at KBN Studios and produced by Oscar Chamba. Diamond Studios is marketing and distributing the album.