By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Pioneering Radio 3 presenter John ‘The Boss’ Matinde will co-host the popular show Reggae Talk with Terrence Mapurisana this Sunday.
The veteran radio and television personality behind the then ZBC Radio 3, now Power FM Zimbabwe, John Matinde will join Classic263 Radio Reggae producer and Presenter Terrence The HotStepper Mapurisana aka The Reggae General, as the two pay homage to the legendary Jamaican Wailers keyboardist and pianist Tyrone Downie.
Downie came to Zimbabwe in 1980 with Bob Marley and were both interviewed by the legendary John Matinde at ZBC Pockets Hill.
Matinde went on to be one of the Directors of ceremonies together with Hon Webster Shamu at the Bob Marley Concert in Rufaro Stadium and the Independence celebrations in 1980.
Speaking from his UK base, Matinde confirmed that he will indeed be co-hosting The Classic263 Radio Reggae Talk program with Mapurisana on Sunday the 20 November, 2022 at 12 noon.
Matinde was the Radio Three’s Station Head in the 1980s before he moved to the States.
Said Mapurisana: It’s an issue of a mentor and mentee sharing the same microphone and it is a great honour to be under the wings of such veteran broadcasters as we obviously learn every day.
Matinde has seen it all and we keep on tapping from the best.
The most interesting thing here is that Matinde did interview Bob Marley and Tyrone Downie here in Zimbabwe and I probably would like to find out how the interview went.”
Tyrone Downie died on the 5 November 2022 in Kingstone and was best known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and The Wailers. He was 66.
He joined The Wailers in the mid-1970s, making his recording debut with the band on Rastaman Vibration.
He also played with The Abyssinians, Beenie Man, Black Uhuru, Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, Junior Reid, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Sly & Robbie.
He resided in France and was a member of the touring band of Youssou N’Dour, whose album titled Remember he produced.
In 1983, Grace Jones released the single “My Jamaican Guy“, a special tribute to Downie.
Downie released the solo album Organ-D in 2001.
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