One of the late Sam Mtukudzi’s biggest fans, emulators and identical musical off spring, Gary Tight, is geared for an emotional Sam Mtukudzi tribute concert meant to celebrate the life and work performed by the youthful entertainer before his death.
Simbarashe Manhango
The music fraternity woke up to the sad news of Sam’s passing on March 15 2010 following a tragic accident that also claimed the life of his friend and sound engineer, Owen Chimhare.
This particular concert will fall on the same fateful day next month.
Despite having been greatly inspired by the young late maestro’s work, Gary Tight admitted how painful it was that the two never met formally to exchange notes.
“We never met each other for a lengthy discussion and he was not even aware that he was my inspiration. We only met briefly at the old Book Café after I was introduced to him by my father,” said Gary Tight, son to musician Willom Tight.
“A handshake is the only memory left of him that we exchanged.”
This eventuality denied Gary Tight the slightest chance to even acknowledge how Sam was more like his ultimate style icon whose family and career setting was and is still similar.
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Seven years have gone by since Sam’s death and perhaps it is somewhat a coincidence that Gary Tight, a promising young musician just like Sam was in his day, is expected to fill the vacuum left by his late icon. Not only will Gary Tight be celebrating the life of Sam through song but, this occasion will surely be emotional as he will be depicting the life of his icon in real time.
“This posthumous honour is just more than a symbolic musical relationship considering I will be doing a repertoire of songs done by Sam when he was alive,” he said.
“But, I will also get to share the stage with another icon, Oliver Mtukudzi, whose heart and soul was so attached to his late son, yearning to see him grow musically.”
At 21, Gary Tight has toured many countries in Europe and seen so much.
“It has been exciting, especially that idea of being far away from my parents. It just gives one a different sense of discovering who they really are,” he said.
Musically, I have grown as I managed to integrate with different artists from different geographical locations, a passage that gave me substance and maturity through networking.”
Although this intimate fame has almost changed everything about his life, Gary Tight says he is not ready to have his vision deterred by minor issues such as multiple deceitful love relationships.
Over the years, there are several notable musical talents whose shining star went gloomy following a series of misplaced decisions when it comes to women.
“I am focusing on my musical career right now. I am still young, though most of my friends are females. The time for me to make bold decisions such as marriage will certainly come, hence I am not in a rush,” he said.
Besides the music, Gary Tight loves travelling a lot and most importantly values family time.
