Tony Ssenkebejje

Composer, singer, soloist, rhythm guitarist and bassist born in Jinja, Uganda on 7 December 1944. In Kampala he joined a group called the National Youth Club under the leadership of Francis Odida. Ssenkebejje joined the cabaret arm called The Crazy Gang, which later evolved into The Darling Brothers formed by Edward Masembe (guitar), Paul Mubiru (bassist), Billy Mbowa Kawoya (singer), Clyde Mayanja (organizer) and Sammy Kawuma (drummer and band leader). In 1963, with Mbowa and the help of Freddie Kanyike he recorded his first song in the AGS studios in Nairobi. The Darling Brothers subsequently evolved into the band of The Cranes, with Ssenkebejje as a rhythm guitarist. Then he joined the Lake Quartet who played at Lake Victoria in Entebbe. With this band Ssenkebejje became a master guitarist soloist and recorded his famous Lugana success "Jukira" published by the Kagaabe label. He was with the band for two years before being asked to join the band of The Cranes as a solo guitarist after the departure of Joe King Mungaya. In 1974 he moved to Kenya starting to play rhythm guitar with a resident band in a Nairobi nightclub. After six months, he moved to Mombasa and joined the Les Noir, a Congolese band. He worked here for a year before joining The Spartans band in Mombasa as a solo guitarist. After two years, he joined the band of The Mombasa Vikings group of musicians from the Seychelles. After seven years he returned to the Spartans band. In 1990 he joined the Afrigo Band. In 1994 he decided to be independent and start his own group called Simba Ngoma with Sammy Murungi (RIP) (keyboard), Rachael Asiimwe (singer), and his wife Rachael Ssenkebejje (singer). The group split when Murungi wanted to start their own band. Ssenkebejje and his wife renamed themselves Simba Sounds, formed with Rachael Ssenkejje (singer and rhythm guitar), Glenn Ssewanyana (keyboard), Patrick Waiswa (bassist), Siraji Galiwango (drummer), Tony Kalanzi (saxophonist), Stanley Ntwatwa (congas).