‘How Jose Chameleone almost killed Radio’s first song’

Chagga, who was among the first performers in Chameleone's music group and always hang out at his studio, said he (Chameleone) had a habit of mothballing songs, a practice that saw lots of budding singers lose their projects from his studio.

The same almost happened to Radio's first song, Jennifer, which was produced by the Valu Valu hitmaker from Leone Island.

"He brought that song and I told Chameleone let's work on his song. But the song was shelved for so long. That kid [was] very patient... Joseph [Chamelone's real name is Joseph Mayanja] had a habit [sarcastically laughs] of sitting on songs,... maybe he would be suspicious, I don't know," Chagga said in an interview with YouTuber Ibra Mukasa.

Geoffrey Chagga Pulse

"Because a lot of songs were brought for production and they were never released... They disappeared. That song was delayed. Chameleone is the one who produced it. But before producing, it would disappear, then re-appear, and it went on like that for a while... I think it took a year or so. Because we reached a point and even took our minds away from it."

Meeting Radio

Chagga said he first met Radio at his brother's salon in Ndeba, a Kampala city suburb.

"I met him at his brother's salon in Ndeba. It's where I used to cut my hair. His brother Frank [Ssekibogo] had a salon and he told me he has a brother who sings... He wanted me to help him... but I didn't pay much attention to it," he said.

"But one day I went back to the salon and found Mowzey drawing my picture using a pen... Eh, and I realised that this guy is talented. So, I gave him a chance to meet me at Leone Island in Kaboowa before it was transferred to Nyanama."

Late Mowzey Radio Pulse Live Uganda

Chagga, Weasel, King Saha, Pallaso, Radio and AK 47 were among the first crooners in Chameleone's music camp.

Weasel and Radio later left to form Goodlyfe, with Jeff Kiwanuka as their manager. Chagga, who left with them, would become their manager after they fell out with Kiwanuka.