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Obama choir signs record deal as they fly into Heathrow
23.01.09
A Kenyan youth choir that performed at Barack Obama's inauguration was preparing to sign up with a London music label in a ceremony at Heathrow airport today.
Talent scout Tom Lewis is expected to snap up the choir to join artists such as Amy Winehouse and the Rolling Stones at Universal Music.
The Boys Choir of Kenya, which has about 20 singers in their teens, performs traditional Masai and Samburu chants as well as Negro spirituals, Caribbean folk songs and music from Bach and Mozart.
They were making a brief transit stop in Britain on their way home to Nairobi.
The unusual signing followed a frenetic couple of days. Mr Lewis was told by an industry colleague about the choir's spectacular performance in Washington DC. After watching them on YouTube, he tracked them down to offer a contract.
The deal was set to be completed in the transfer lounge of Heathrow this lunchtime.
Mr Lewis said: “It's not very often that a Kenyan choir who have just performed at the inauguration of the President of the United States passes through your back garden. I have a hunch they might be huge and I don't want anyone else to get in there.”
He thought the warmth of their sound would have wide appeal and said: “There's something very special there. I think this is a massive worldwide recording opportunity for them because what they do is so beautiful. It sounds like sunshine.”
The choir sang at the personal invitation of Barack Obama whose father came from Kenya.
Joseph Muyale, the choir's founding director, said: “Many of the choir come from very humble backgrounds and this is one of the most exciting things that has happened to us.” The deal will boost their earning power. The choir's performances already raise funds to pay for members to go to school.
