Reggae artist Mbulelo Michael Mato, known to many as Daddy Spencer, passed away at the age of 48. He was born on October 23, 1975 in Gugulethu, Cape Town, South Africa. His untimely death robbed the community of a great Rastafarian Warrior, a skilled songwriter, a talented singer, a humble soul and a father figure to many. He earned his moniker Daddy Spencer very early in his career because of his ability to nature, guide, inspire and motivate others. A fatherly figure who eventually got the moniker Di Gyals Defender. Daddy Spencer was thee artist; most loved and respected by other artists because of the way he carried himself and how he made people who came in contact with him feel. He had that distinctive ability to bring out the best in people.
Here are five distinct tracks that highlight his career.
Youthman – Segnale Digitale
Youthman encompasses the essence of what Daddy Spencer is all about. A community Builder, A teacher, an Activist, a Friend and someone to look up to. Its motivational tone and message is what defines Daddy Spencer. Always ready to assist, looking for solutions rather than fame. In the video for Youth Man, one of his biggest hits produced by Spain imprint Segnale Digitale, we see Daddy in the ghetto talking about the plight of the ghetto youth, they do not have a plan and hanging at street corners, impoverished and susceptable to be lured into crime and violence. The story line takes a turn when Daddy Spencer takes action by taking the sky larking youth out of the ghetto to a different tranquil setting and showing him there is more to life outside of the ghetto and that he must take charge of his life. He does not wait for something tragic to happen before taking action.
Sicel’uzise Uthando – Black Time Productions
In April 2013 Daddy Spencer was chosen to be part of a cultural exchange project called “Kaapstad meets Kytopia”, which was a collaboration of artists from Cape Town and artists from Kytopia, Utrecht in the Netherlands. He left the Netherlands and went to Berlin, Germany, In that period he met Victoria Kadito, known as Firstlady. It was Victoria Kadito who introduced Daddy Spencer to Matheus Freire, of Black Time Productions. The connection with Black Time Productions was so powerful and authentic you can hear it in the song “Sicel’uzise Uthando“
Owam – Jammin Media Group
Owam is a Xhosa love song by Daddy Spencer, the title means “My One”. The song is about unconditional love, to love someone with their flaws and not judge them or try to make them change for you. To love them as they are. It is one of the easy songs that Daddy Spencer did. It’s fun, simple and playful. He talks about the love that he receives from his lover who loves him unconditionally. She loves his beard, his locks and his Rasta ways. The song is off the Looking Forward Riddim by Jammin Media Group.
Jah Spear – Shiloh Ites Production
Feat. Rico “Fyah horns” on Sax and Produced by Iyah One & Daddy Spencer ,A Shiloh Ites Production of 2012. This is the early production that he worked on with Shiloh Ites. The chemistry between the production team and Spencer was solid. Jah Spear is a dub prodution and Daddy Spencer flowed easily on dub productions hence the tight connection with Shiloh Ites
Mount Zion Ft. The Gugulethu Tenors
In 2014 Daddy Specer independently released and distributed a Reggae album titled Wild Flower,. An impressive compilation of the singles recorded over the years with various productions from across the globe. Rebels’tone Music Lab Cape Town, Shiloh Ites Production Sweden, Black Times Productions Brazil, Dj Noox-Kiltir Re-Union Island, Live Wire Record Botswana, Spliff Rec Cape Town, Blackstarliner Movement Zimbabwe. Wild Flower was also the lead track off the album, having enjoyed much rotation when released as part of the Compilation Underage Riddim by Rebel’stone Musik Lab, Cape Town. The album included the innovative track with the Gugulethu Quartert called Mount Zion, a Shiloh Ites Production.