It’s not only music which makes a man

Earth and though he died a pitiful death he left a legacy that many have to follow as a must.
In his 40 years as a musician, which started as a five-year old boy wonder with the Jackson Five in 1964, Michael held the world spell-bound for ages and was also regarded as one of the richest (people) musicians in the world.
Mike only released seven full-length albums during his career some of which have become masterpieces and sought after pieces.
We have seen many musicians releasing more material than Mike but having nothing to show for all that effort. Besides being a musician, songwriter, dancer, producer, Mike also had a different side, which made his life totally different from the other musicians.
Mike had business acumen which helped him, and one of his biggest coups was when he successfully bid for the AT & T music catalogue which contains most of The Beatles and other artistes’ classics.
That move made Mike and Paul MaCartney, then the best of buddies featuring on songs like Say Say Say and That Girl Is Mine into sworn enemies who never had a kind word for each other.
When Mike acquired The Beatles’ songs, it made life easier for him. This was because a substantial amount of income was guaranteed to him through The Beatles who were the biggest group ever and were constantly played on radio.
Few radio stations don’t play The Beatles’ songs and the kind of revenue generated from those royalties is a substantial amount now directed to Mike’s estate.
In his entire more than 40-years as an artiste Mike released only seven full-length albums which although they were masterpieces they didn’t sorely help maintain his lavish lifestyle.
We all know that Mike during his last years, was not that juggernaut that used to mesmerise and terrorise the world as he did during the later 60s, 70s and his heydays the 80s when he was just smoking. But when his musical career was faltering Mike lived large and comfortably.
Unlike many musicians who always have to release material frequently to make sure they have to survive Mike was always sitting on a cash cow. Though he kicked the bucket tragically, at least he didn’t die a pauper as we have seen happening to many musicians locally and internationally.
Michael Jackson left a legacy that I think some of our local musicians should take a cue from and realise that it’s not only music which maketh a man but also business acumen.
It’s better to make hay while the sun shines and live pretty thereafter rather than to be a charity case living in the history of yesteryear.
The reason I am saying this is because I have seen many local musicians having their bread buttered during their prime days but fizzle out to be paupers in later life.
Most musicians especially urban groovers are failing to use their star prowess to garner some wealth or investments which can become crucial in later years.
I got thinking about this when I saw how some of our urban groovers are making money and living the life that’s usually seen only on television or read in books.
My man Winky D of the Musarove Bigiman fame is living large and is arguably the best musical act in the country and with that comes a little fortune.
I was happy and really chaffed to see Winky, driving a modest though comfortable Honda in the city centre some time back.
Also the stunning one Stunner is driving and he told me that besides music he has some other business interests in town that he is taking care off.
ExQ whose music is not hitting like before is also into business importing and exporting things which is the right step in the right direction. In fact musicians shouldn’t rely on music alone but also venture into other areas of business which might help them in later life when their music fails to live up to expectations.
It was with a heavy heart that I heard that Potato, that lyrical genius from the past decade is living from hand to mouth. Potato had his time in the sun rubbing shoulders with the elite like Andy Brown, Oliver Mtukudzi and others and at one time was even invited by Boom Shaka, that South African fusion group to be their frontman, though nothing materialised.
Another artiste Judah E formerly of Xtra Large and of the Kabhasikoro Kangu fame died like a pauper at a time when his fame was waning.
It’s important for these cats to invest whatever they get and not rely on music alone as that can turn out to be catastrophic in later life. There is need for our musicians especially the young ones to be careful about their stock and not spend their time into hedonistic activities.
Maskiri should be one of the richest rappers in the land but surprisingly the man is living from hand to mouth yet his music is among the most popular among youths.
Musicians always tend to blame their different stages of penury on piracy but I really think that to an extent they are hiding behind a finger.
Music sales and shows alone can never be relied on but other business ventures as well like what MJ did and ExQ is now doing.
Our youths should know that hay is made when the sign is still shining not when the rains and the cold are about to be with us.
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