Blu*3
| Blu*3 | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kampala-Uganda |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004 - 2010 |
| Associated acts | Goodlyfe Crew, The Undercover Brothers, Obsessions |
| Members |
Lilian Mbabazi Jackie Chandiru Cinderella Sanyu Mya Baganda |
Blu 3 was a Ugandan all-girl band formed in April 2004 after winning the TV show Coca Cola Popstars. The name is contrived to mean 3 Beautiful (or Black) Ladies from Uganda. Original members were Jackie chandiru, Lilian Mbabazi and Cinderella Sanyu. After winning the contest, they went on to record 2 albums Hitaji (2004) and Burrn (2007). The Hitaji album spawned the hit singles "Hitaji", "Frisky" and the afro beat "Tomalaako". The girls launched Hitaji at logogo cricket stadium in December 2004 with thousands of fans. The "Hitaji" video went on to win the Pearl of Africa Music Award for Video of the Year.
Sanyu left to pursue other projects and was replaced by Mya Baganda The group's name was changed to Blu 3 having dropped the star.
In 2007, Blu 3 got back in the studio with their longtime producer and manager Steve Jean and recorded the full-length album Burrn. The title track featured Navio from hip hop group Klear Kut. Other hits on the album were the Silver Kyagulanyi penned songs "Nsanyuka Nawe", "Ndibeera Nawe" and "Nkoye". "Burrn" won the Video of the Year award at the 2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards). They have also been nominated for Kora Awards, Channel O Music Video Awards and have won 2 Kisima Awards, 3 PAM Awards and numerous others. The group has toured many countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, UK and Ethiopia. A new album is being planned for late 2008 with a slew of international producers like Charlie King and Aydee of Goodenuff coming in on the project. The working title of the project is B3 and is expected to wrap production in October 2008. The first single off the new album is the Latin flavored "Together" produced by Steve Jean.
Awards
Won
- 2005 Kisima Music Awards - Best Artist/Group from Uganda & Best Music Video from Uganda
- 2005 Pearl of Africa Music Awards - Video of the Year ("Hitaji")[1]
- 2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards - Video of the Year ("Burrn") [2]
Nominations
- 2005 Kora Awards - Best East African Group [3]
- 2005 Tanzania Music Awards - Best East African Album (Hitaji)[4]
- 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards - Best East African video ("Frisky") [5]
- 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards - Best Group & Best Performer [6]
- 2010 Tanzania music awards - Best East African Song ('Where you are' with Radio & Weasel)
References
- ↑ PAM Awards: 2005 Winners & Nominees
- ↑ Museke: Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) awards 2007 winners - Uganda
- ↑ Kora Awards: Kora Awards 2005 nominees
- ↑ Tanzania Music Awards - Nominees 2005
- ↑ africa.bizcommunity.com: Channel O Award nominees released
- ↑ Museke: MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) 2009 nominees