Tedd Josiah

Tedd Josiah (born 1970) is a music producer from Kenya. He started as a musician, first briefly with the group Ebony Affair before forming a new group, Hart in 1993. The group was disbanded in 1995 and Josiah joined Sync Sound Studios as a producer.[1] In 1999 he left Sync Sound Studios and formed Audio Vault Studios.[2] It was renamed to Blu Zebra in 2002.

He is credited for producing compilation albums called 'Kenyan, The First Chapter' and 'Kenyan, The Second Chapter'. The two albums featured Hardstone, Kalamashaka, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji, Necessary Noize, In-Tu, Jimmy Gathu, Maina Kageni, Pete Odera, Ndarling P and Ugandan musician Kawesa

Josiah is also the founder of Kisima Awards, the premier annual musical awards held in Kenya. He was given producer of the year prize at the Kisima Awards in 2004, but he rejected it citing his position as an organiser of the awards. Next year he resigned from its organizing committee.[3]

Like most studios in Kenya, Blu Zebra has a fixed producer and it operates also as a record label. Blu Zebra continues to be one of leading Kenyan production houses/record labels, alongside Mandugu Digital, Ogopa DJs, Calif Records, Homeboyz, Jomino among others.

Tedd Josiah has worked with many of the most popular Kenyan performers like Poxi Presha, Suzzana Owiyo, Achieng' Abura, Abbi, and Didge among others.

For the 2007 General elections, Josiah campaigned ODM and its presidential candidate Raila Odinga. During the post-election crisis Josiah felt his life threatened and moved to London 2008, ending his career as a music producer in Kenya [4]

Kevin Wyre previously worked as a producer at Blu Zebra Studios. Wyre is also a member of Necessary Noize.[5]

References

  1. ^ The Standard, February 2, 2007: Tedd ranks artistes
  2. ^ Daily Nation, May 23, 1999: Exciting tidings in store for local artistes and music lovers
  3. ^ The Standard, February 3, 2005: Tedd resigns from Kisima committee
  4. ^ November 11, 2010: Tedd Josiah returns home
  5. ^ The Standard, Pulse Magazine, December 30, 2004: It’s been a good year for… Necessary Noize