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Funk and house music lovers were treated to the best of music last weekend at Deep West Resort Club situated in Nairobi West, where legendary Spanish-based deejay Paco Perez thrilled revelers.
The event, dubbed the Third Edition of Itrain, witnessed hundreds of fans throng the venue to catch a glimpse of one of the most internationally celebrated deejays.
Local veteran deejays among them Adams, Babs, Hussein Abdalla, Ken and Justine graced the occasion.
Also present were dancers Paul Cracker Munyao, Charles Nganga and Yellow man.
Excited Kenyans from all walks of life came to watch what they termed as a unique and rare event that brought them together.
Local deejay Justine was the first on stage setting the party mood as he churned out the best mix of music paving way for Adams who equally rocked the crowd.
The moment 66-year-old Paco, stepped on stage ready to unleash the golden oldies on vinyl the crowd went wild. His presence brought back nostalgic memories of some of the evergreen classic funk and soul music of the late 80’ and 90’s.
"I am glad that my fans enjoyed the show which I believe is unique and different from the rest," he said in between his performances.
Paco who single handedly revolutionized Kenyan disc jockeying arena in the late 70’s all through to 90’s, said he hoped to stage more concerts in the near future.
During his stay in Kenya in the early 70’s to 80’s where he was based at clubs Somberero ( now Hollywood) and Boomerang (formerly Ainsworth) he mentored a number of popular local deejays among them Tito, Shabadoo, Adams, Stone and others for free.
The artiste who is visiting Kenya for the third time with his recent visits being in 2011 and 2012, during which he performed at popular Nairobi clubs said he is delighted to be in Kenya which he refers to as his second home.
Popular dancers like Rare Watts, Charles Nganga, Cracker Munyao and Yellow man also used the opportunity to showcase their skills.
Perez first came to Kenya in 1974 and is still fondly remembered by many fans who frequented the Nairobi party scene.
Veteran dancer Paul ‘Cracker’ Munyao still remembers the 1980s much-publicised dancing competitions held at Boomerang Club, Museum Hill.
He recalls that Paco Perez would play rare hit soul music from his collection.
"His mixing contributed hugely to my winning of the 1988 Motorbike Competition," enthuses Cracker.
"Perez was the best," says Abdul adding,"He mixed and scratched manually. Those were the days before the FM radio stations; Kenya was a one party state and a one TV station state. Clubs were the in thing and soul was rocking; DJs and dancers who came up with own dance styles in the break dance era were demigods.”
The popular joints then were Bubbles, Annabells, Moi Avenue (behind Nation Centre), Beat House, Visions — frequented by the mature, working class, Club 1900 (now Shamuras), Boomerang, Museum Hill and also Hollywood, opposite Nakumatt lifestyle. There was also Dreams Sahara City along the Mombasa Highway.
