Many times Kenyans have had a tendency of associating our Superstars with International Celebrities in both the Music and Entertainment Industry, or even in the sporting world, you find footballers linked to people like Eric Cantona, in the eighties or the Ronaldinhos and Thierry Henry in this age. So where do we place the Soulful Slim Ali, was he Kenya’s answer to Percy Sledge, or Marvin Gaye or was he himself.

I will go for the later as Slim was his own self, he had a unique style and was gifted and blessed with a Powerful Soulful voice and sang at ease with deep feelings that poured into his lyrics. Having started his Musical career in Mombasa, the Coastal capital of Kenya, Slim started playing Grill Music for Tourists who frequent Hotels and Restaurants in this region.

He later moved to the Capital City, Nairobi and found himself with the famous Hodi Boys, a mid sixties Group that had survived the influx of Congolese Musicians who had taken over the Night Clubs in Kenya. Their survival through the years was due to the sheer genius of veteran Guitarist Juma Toto.

Hodi Boys were a household name enjoying extensive Media Coverage and Air Play both on Radio & Television, on the State Network, Voice of Kenya. The Group were a regular feature on the T.V. Musical, ‘Jiburudisheni’ and with Slim joining them; his powerful voice rejuvenated the Group and placed them back into National limelight.

A Star had been born, record company A.I.T. Records, pioneers in the local recording and international music artistes’ distribution in Kenya, grabbed the opportunity and signed Slim Ali. Brothers Mike and Ronnie Andrews of A.I.T released Slim Ali’s Mega Single, ‘You Can Do It’ amid a fantastic PR and Marketing campaign.The result was such a success that they followed it up with a ‘Hit’ album with the same title ‘You Can Do It’, Slim ruled the Air Waves.

 Sales of the single and album soared and there was no stopping for Slim Ali and the Andrew brothers. Soon another album ‘Sweet Mother’ came, which had an Afro Rock beat.Slim had finally arrived on the scene with other hits such as ‘We Need A Little More Time’, ‘Tell Me’, and others. All were Radio anthems and even topped charts across the borders.

Like most Bands that could not survive the Disco Mania of the eighties, Slim parted ways with the Hodi Boys and returned to Mombasa, where he performed as a Solo Singer/Pianist at various Hotels for International Tourist clientele.