'Mariru' song hit-maker Albert Gacheru dies in Nairobi
Benga musician Albert Gacheru during a past performance.
The local music industry is in mourning again following the death of legendary benga star Albert Gacheru at the Kenyatta National Hospital on Monday at 59.
Renowned for his two hits ‘Mwendwa wakwa Mariru’ and ‘Mumunya’, he gained fame beyond the central region in a career that spanned more than 35 years.
Albert Gacheru during an interview with the Nation on June 1, 2011.
A pioneering producer, Gacheru was behind many artistes in the 1990s, including the late Queen Jane, the late John Demathew and gospels singers such as Mary Wambui and Shari Martin.
His brother, Julius Kanyora, told the Nation that Gacheru had been in the ICU for the last two months and breathed his last at 9pm.
Born in Nyandarua, the trained accountant – who later studied law at the Mt Kenya University – fought in courts for the streamlining of the copyright act to protect both musicians and producers.
His battle against music pirates saw him lodge various cases at the High Court, where he represented himself.
Music Copyright Society of Kenya chairman Albert Gacheru (centre), Bernard Mukaisi (left) and chief executive officer Merit Simiyu during a press briefing on July 31, 2017.
His music production house suffered in early 2000 when his shop and studio in Nairobi burnt down with all his recordings, which forced him to temporarily retreat. He blamed the fire on the pirates who were determined to bring him down.
Before that, vandals had broken into his Wamaitu Productions studios in Nairobi and stolen equipment.
Gacheru was also once a director of Music Copyright Society of Kenya and the Kenya Music Composer Association.
Some of the hits he produced included ‘My Dear Nduku’ by John Demathew and Mary Wambui’s ‘Ahadi ya Bwana’.
Gacheru started off in the 1980s by opening a hardware shop along Duruma Road in Nairobi before turning it into a music shop when his song ‘Mumunya’ hit the market.
His hunt for pirates would take him to their dungeons in Kampala and Dar es Salaam as he hunted for evidence. While he received serious death threats, Gacheru managed to weather the storms.
