DONELL JONES IS COMING TO NAIROBI, THAT’S WHAT’S UP SHORTY!

American RNB artiste Donell Jones will be performing inNairobi’s National Park for the Tusker Lite Experience concert this Friday.

Born May 22, 1973 in Chicago, IL, Donell started singing atthe age of 8, wrote his first song at the age of 12 and at the age of 14 hereceived an electric guitar as a gift from his mother. With his roots in musicfirmly planted, Jones overcame the southside streets of Chicago’s gang life topursue his dream.

While at a music conference in Washington, DC in 1993, Donellcaught the attention of music producer Eddie F.  At the time Jones was amember of a group.  The group had high aspirations for their talentshowcase at the conference, however, no one showed up.



Determined to getnoticed, Jones and the group started singing for anyone who listened. Eddie F saw great potential in the group that day. Shortly after that meetingthe group was signed to Untouchables/LaFace and recorded a single but theirdream was never realized because the group disbanded.

Not willing to give up on the music business, Donell provedhis skills as a writer and producer.  Donell wrote one of Usher’s firsttop ten hits, “Think of You.” He wrote and produced for several other artistsincluding 702, Silk, Brownstone, Madonna. In 1996, with LaFace’s long awaitedapproval, Jones released his debut album, My Heart. It included a cover ofStevie Wonders’ song; “Knocks Me Off My Feet,” that quickly gained Jones aloyal following. 

But it wasn’t until his second album “Where I Wanna Be,”released in 1999 and certified platinum, that Donell was recognized as a trueforce in R&B. With a number one hit that featured TLC's Lisa"Left-Eye” Lopes, “U Know What’s Up” others began to see what LaFaceRecords already knew.

His third album, “Life Goes On,” was released in 2002 andpeaked at number 2 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

After a 4 year hiatus, in 2006 Jones released his fourthalbum “Journey of a Gemini,” which debuted at number 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hopchart, his first album to achieve that feat.

Jones released his fifth studio album, Lyrics, on Sept 28,2010 on his own label, Candyman Records. Jones is also working with new artistsTrina B and Breese, plans to release their debut albums are forthcoming.

TUSKER ALL STARS TO HIT THE STAGE WITH USHER AND KERI HILSON

The winner of the Tusker Project Fame new season dubbed All Stars will perform at a a mega concert with Usher Raymond and Keri Hilson at the “Tusker All Stars Concert” scheduled for the Carnivore Grounds on 20th August 2011.



Commenting on the musical show, EABL Group Marketing Director Debra Mallowah said: “The Tusker All Stars will represent a return to their African roots for the two international artists. It also marks a breaking of the glass ceiling for East Africa’s entertainment scene as our very own share a stage with some of the biggest names in global entertainment.”
“This for Tusker represents a continuous commitment towards supporting talent and live music,” she added.



After a careful and considerate selection based on popularity and career progression, the eight contestants shortlisted to be part of Tusker All Stars include Tusker Project Fame Season 3 winner Alpha Rwirangira from Rwanda, Kenya’s Bernard Nganga popularly known as ‘Ngangalito’ and Patricia Kihoro.
Tusker Project Fame Season 2’s Tanzanian heartthrob Hemedi Suleiman, his fellow country man Peter Msechu and Tusker Project Fame season 4 winner Davis Ntare also made the cut.



Tusker Project Fame Season 4’s Amileena Mwenesi and Tusker Project Fame season 3’s Caroline Nabulime, both known for their vocal range and dancing prowess, are the two other stars joining the Tusker All Stars. The show is set to debut on 26th June while the grand finale will be staged on 14th August.
Running for eight weeks, the Tusker All Stars TV show will showcase the stars at their very best, performing as individuals and as groups. Their challenge is to entertain East Africa with riveting music acts each week while showcasing their star quality and versatility.



Unlike Tusker Project Fame where the primary focus is on singing ability, Tusker All Stars TV show will not only seek to bring out the whole entertainment package but also serve to show East Africa how their favorite stars have grown to be great entertainers and the next generation of East African super stars.
As part of Tusker’s hallmark crafted experiences, audience will be able to follow the participant’s journey weekly TV shows aired every Sunday in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Viewers from the three countries will vote to select the top three Tusker All Stars they would like to perform at the Tusker All Stars concert.
“Music continues to be a platform through which Tusker engages and connects with its consumers as the brand seeks to leave a lasting legacy on Africa’s music scene. Music has the power to bring people together, which is evidenced every year by the millions of fans who watch Tusker Project Fame,” said Debra Mallowah.



She added: “Music has always been a part of the Tusker heritage and with Tusker All Stars, we’re moving to a whole new level of consumer engagement. It’s one of the ways we are showing appreciation to loyal Tusker consumers.”
Over the past 5 years, Tusker has been at the fore-front of developing, nurturing and supporting musical talent across the East African region through its reality TV talent show Tusker Project Fame. Since its debut in 2006, a legion of music superstars and personalities have emerged as a direct result of exposure by the show.