Mas wins at Africa Music Awards

BY Linda Serck
BBC Berkshire reporter

Terence Mas grew up in Zimbabwe but now lives in Tilehurst

An IT worker from Tilehurst in Reading has scooped a trophy for Best South African Artist at an international music awards ceremony.

R'n'B singer Terence Mas saw off three major South African Artists at the annual Africa Music Awards.

"I was up against some really good artists," he says, "and when my name was called out on the stage I thought they were joking!".

Mas's debut album, called All I Am, was released in April 2009.

At the ceremony, on Saturday 17 October 2009 at the Troxy in London, Mas had a speech prepared in case he won against the three other nominees, Tsakani, Zola and Jamali.

"But because I was so excited and so shocked I forgot every single word!", he exclaims. "I just got on that stage and couldn't take my eyes off that award.

"I was so shocked, my smile was bigger than my face. It was an unbelievable feeling, a cross between being really happy and really scared".

'My dad brought Bob Marley to Africa'

The 28-year-old singer grew up in Zimbabwe where his father Vittario Mas owned a jazz nightclub.

"As a kid I used to go up there and see some of the greatest performers. My dad was actually the first man to bring Bob Marley to Africa.

Terence Mas saw off three other South African artists to win

"They brought him down to perform in one of the stadiums there - it was a sell-out concert".

Mas then moved to Texas in America aged 15 where he discovered R 'n' B after singing backing vocals with an artist called The Saint.

From the US he moved to Reading to stay with his aunt and has since settled in the town, making a name for himself as a singer and working with local musicians such as hip hop ragga artist Deadly Hunta.

It was his video for I Cry that helped garner a large fan base and the award nomination after it was played on rotation on three music TV stations.

"It was constantly getting played and people were constantly requesting it," he says.

Gig on Friday 4 December 2009

Mas is now organising his first Reading gig since his album release on Friday 4 December 2009.

His band features Billy Ocean's son Antoine on drums and in support comes Deon Nathan, Samitra, Crazy, Nature Kid, and Deadly Hunta.

The venue is the former Matrix nightclub location, now a banqueting centre, called Shehnai on London Street, Reading.

Mas's second album is slated for February 2010.

He says: "I'm hoping the album will take me to the next stage and be nominated for more awards!"