A Toast and a Dance: Donell Jones in Nairobi

Christmas comes early with what is gearing up to become the biggest R&B concert in recent memory—American musician Donnell Jones, 38, in concert at the Nairobi National park tonight, December 8^th.

UP magazine team caught up with the crooner a few hours before he graces the grand launch of EABL’s new beer ‘Tusker Lite’.

He is a laid-back brother without the usual celebrity airs; it actually took me ten minutes to locate him. Yet, there he was, the guy chilling at the corner devoid of a superstar demeanor. Not to be mistaken for a lack of edge and presence, it seems to me that Donell, clad in a pair of blue jeans, a brown T-shirt and a beige coat, carries himself like an ordinary soulful bloke despite the fact that he has had countless hits and award nominations.

“I come from America and grew up loving music in Chicago, Illinois. Until now, I didn’t know that I had a lot of fans in Kenya! I guess that’s just goes to show that music is universal, and you can see how far it has brought me,” said Donell.

Channeling the 90s with his signature hat – the Kangol – popular circa 1992, everything about him is reminiscent of the once flourishing era of R&B. Gone are R&B groups and successful solo artists such as Montell Jordan, Case, Jodeci and Silk, so why is Donell still down for R&B?

He says, “I still do R&B because over the years, it’s the music that has defined who I am. I mostly write about my experiences and those of people around me.”

The smooth singer with the “love-buttered” voice has to date released six R&B studio albums including the platinum selling “Where I wanna be” which included the hit single “You know what’s up” whose remix featured the late Lisa Lopez of all-girl group, “TLC”. His latest album titled “Lyrics” was released in September 2010.

“I arrived in Kenya last night and I already love it here. The weather and the people are amazing. I appreciate my Kenyan fans because of how they receive my music. It’s who I am, and they hold me down,” said Donell Jones who is also a father blessed with five daughters.

“People talk a lot when a family man sings about women. I am a songwriter but I am still a man, and at the core of it all is love. Most of my songs including hit singles like ‘This luv’ and ‘Shorty got her eyes on me’ are about women because there is nothing like making love to a beautiful woman,” said Donell Jones.

Joining him on stage will be a highly volatile Kenyan soul-duo comprising of Dela and Neema Ntalel.

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