Taps Mugadza

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Taps Mugadza
Taps Mugadza, Hello cover, Zimbabwean musician
Background information
Birth nameTapiwa Kudakwashe Mugadza
Also known as'Taps' Mugadza
Born (1988-06-14) June 14, 1988 (age 35)
GenresSoul
Occupation(s)Musician, Songwriter
Years active2006 to present
Websitewww.taps4music.com


Taps Mugadza (born Tapiwa Mugadza) is a Zimbabwean musician popularly known for being an A Academy music competition contestant (contest similar to American Idols), and more recently for his YouTube cover song[1] of Adele's popular song "Hello". He is based in Los Angeles in the United States of America.

Background

Tapiwa Kudakwashe Mugadza was born on 14 June 1988. At just 2 days old, he was abandoned on the doorstep of an orphanage in Harare.[2]

At the the age of 8, he was moved to another orphanage called 'St Joseph's Home for Boys in Harare with 4 other boys, an event he has described as having been traumatic. The 4 other boys became his 'family' and they stuck together. One of the boys however died at the orphanage after falling sick and Taps is the one who discovered this after checking on the friend in bed when he'd not come for breakfast.[3]

Taps says he resorted to music to release himself from his pain during those days.

At any early age, I found a place to release my pain. I would often sing to myself as I cried. I would tell myself that everything was going to be alright. All the pain of unanswered questions was released into my music. I found that when I would sing to myself, it brought me an inner peace in such a special way. At that age music became my best friend, it became a force that I could confide in. It was able to interpret what I was feeling in a better way than I could. And most of all it gave me a reason to see beyond tomorrow.[3]

Early Music

At the age of 15, Tapiwa had his first encounter with a guitar. One day a church group came to visit the boys' home and one of the church members gave an old beat up guitar to one of his friends. It had four strings. He sang and played his guitar, and everyone began to notice.[3] He taught himself the guitar, and formed a small singing group with other orphan boys. [4]

Within three years, Taps, was leading worship, playing guitar and piano at Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Zimbabwe.[3]

Taps began singing gospel music at church at 15 and went on to come third in a Zimbabwean music talent competition, A Academy in 2006. The winner of the competition that year was Jonah Sithole.

He joined a Christian mission group – ROCK of Africa – which helped him find sponsors to go to America in 2009 where he studied at the Musicians Institute - College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood and graduated while also being accorded the most “Outstanding Artist”.[2]

Successes

In October 2015, Taps posted a cover of Adele's runaway success song Hello on YouTube and in 5 weeks, it had hit a million views. His version was referred to as one of the best covers of the song by such publications as BuzzFeed.[5]

Taps Mugadza's Videos

"Hello" cover by Taps Mugadza
Taps- Waiting For You (Official Music Video)




References

  1. Hello, Taps Mugadza Cover YouTube, Published: 25 Oct 2015, Retrieved: 13 Nov 2015
  2. 2.0 2.1 US: Orphanage raised Mugadza’s amazing Adele cover, New Zimbabwe, Published:3 Nov 2015, Retrieved: 13 Nov 2015
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Quick Facts, Taps Empire, Retrieved: 13 Nov 2015
  4. Weekend song # 6: Taps’ Change in my heart Great Zimbabwe Guide, Published: December 15 2012, Retrieved: 13 Nov 2015
  5. http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/bonjour-from-the-other-side#.ke69yJ0Wr 11 Covers Of “Hello” That Are Actually Really, Really, Really Good], BuzzFeed, Published: 7 Nov 2015, 13 Nov 2015

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