Mac Dee pays tribute to Penwell

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Wednesday June 30, 2010 00:00

When the talented vocalist died last year, Lentswenyane had to take off from his job at O Zone Club in Lobatse to attend the funeral in Soweto, South Africa

Now the DJ, who also doubles as music promoter, has released his album in honour of his departed hero simply titled My Hero. Mac Dee has formed a band called Face to Face and has featured the likes of Donald Botshelo (Don B), Ludwe Maki as well as Linda Sekgoma in the debut album.

The late singer himself once sang a song by the same name in Matshikos' Whose Gonna Change The World album. The track went on to become a runaway success and even years after he left the group it continues to drive people crazy whenever played at festivals.

'Penwell was such a down to earth person who respected all the people regardless of their age or status. I worked closely with him organising shows for his group By 4 here in Botswana and distributing and promoting their music and there was no time when he crossed me. I loved the way he sang with Matshikos and how people highly regarded him for his leading role in the group but he never saw himself as a big star,' Mac Dee.

Mac Dee wrote and produced the album and, according to him, this was only a way to express his versatility.'Many people know me as a House DJ because that is the kind of music that I play mostly at clubs. I have also remixed some House tunes for DJ Sly. But over the years I have grown to appreciate various types of music. I like disco, which is why I became friends with Penwell in the first place,' he said.

One song in this album that has a bearing on the artists' life is Don't Give Up. Since he stared in 1984 the artiste has struggled to make a serious impact but he continues to persevere and believes that his time will come.

'I have worked with different characters, I have been cheated, I have made some wrong choices and paid for it, but I still believe that I will make it. Life is full of challenges and giving up should not be an option for anyone,' he admonishes.

The producer has had a fair share of bad luck. In 2007 he suffered serious injuries on his way to a show in Ghanzi and to this day he is still nursing a broken leg.

Many had already written him off after falling seriously sick and spending a long time in hospital last year but he beat the odds and was back in studio to do this album. The result was a song called Tshepa Thapelo. 'In any situation you have to trust God and I believe it was through his power that I have managed to pull through,' he said.

Mac Dee turns 40 in August and hopes to celebrate his birthday with the release of his house album, but is not sure if he will meet the deadline.

'As you can see I am still trying to market My Hero and there is not enough time and resources to do it in such a short space of time,' he said.