The first track, "Kunze Kwadoka" sets the standard for the album: Oliver's signature guitar sound is coupled with joyous backing vocals and swaying gospel-tinged keyboards. Jazzy sax lines accent the transcendent "Mkuru Mkuru" while the mesmerizing groove of "Pindurai Mambo" is both intelligent, spiritual and eminently danceable.

Yet beyond the stellar musicianship, the complex, interwoven rhythms and beautiful melodies, Paivepo is a proud, poetic album. Throughout Oliver sings about the triumphs and challenges that confront not just his own people, the Shona, ("Ndagarwa Nhaka"; "Sandi Bonde") but all of Africa ("Ngoma Nehosho"; "Pindurai Mambo"). Universal themes like mutual respect and love ("Chiri Nani"; "Murands Kumwe") are equally represented. It is the voice - a big voice - of a man with a clear vision and message. It is a voice that draws from the past while looking to paint a new future. It comes as little surprise then that Paivepo is Shona for "Once upon a time...."

"Tuku", as he is known to his growing legion of fans, and his band The Black Spirits, toured North America in 1999 as part of Africa Fete appearing at many of the premier festivals and stages across the continent, including NYC's SummerStage, WOMAD USA, The Warfield Theatre in SF and LA's Grand Performances. The Tuku 2000 North American Tour is scheduled for August and September including stops in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston. Oliver's professional music career has spanned more than twenty years and has produced 42 original albums, most of them best sellers in his native Zimbabwe. But it is his dedication to the live music scene in Zimbabwe - playing to enthusiastic audiences in even the remotest parts of the country that has earned him the respect and admiration of the people in Zimbabwe.

Tuku burst into the world of music in 1977 when he joined the now legendary Wagon Wheels, which also featured Thomas Mapfumo. Success came to them early - the first single they recorded together, "Dzandimomotera", rapidly went gold, and was followed by Tuku's first solo album (recorded on four track) which was also a smash hit. It was with a number of the musicians from the Wagon Wheels line-up that Oliver formed the Black Spirits, the band that has backed him throughout his career. On the heels of Zimbabwean Independence in 1980, Oliver and the Black Spirits produced "Africa", one of the most important albums of its time, and with the two hits it spawned, 'Zimbabwe' and 'Mazongonyedze', the fledgling country found one of its first great voices.

Since Independence, Oliver has released two albums every year, establishing himself as a producer/arranger, a prolific songwriter and, a formidable lead singer. Tuku has, in fact, been so innovative in these various fields that his distinctive music style is now widely described as "Tuku Music". This is not to suggest that there are no recognizable influences in his work. The traditional forms of mbira, the South African mbaqanga, and the popular jit styles all affect it deeply - but these, like katekwe, the traditional drumming patterns of his clan, the Korekore, are very much absorbed into a music form indubitably his own.

Apart from the individuality of his music, Tuku's enduring popularity has largely resulted from his powers as a lyricist. Most of his songs focus on the social and economic issues that govern people's daily lives. His infectious sense of optimism that pervades all his music appeals to young and old alike. His commitment to fighting the AIDs pandemic through his open approach to the topic in his songs has contributed greatly to restoring a sense of care and responsibility within the wider community. As the oldest of seven children, Oliver developed a sense of social and economic responsibility early in life due to the premature death of his father.

Oliver's desire to bring his message to a wider audience led him to venture into the worlds of film and stage. Although he participated in several documentaries on Zimbabwean music during the 1980s, including the BBC's Under African Skies and The Soul of the Mbira, it was not until 1990 that Tuku found film success with a featured role in the internationally heralded JIT - the first local feature film with an all Zimbabwean cast.

Tuku has been heavily influenced by chimurenga, the genre pioneered by Mapfumo that is inspired by the hypnotic rhythms of the mbira (thumb piano). However chimurenga is just one of many styles performed by Tuku, as his music also incorporates pop influences, South African mbaqanga, the energetic Zimbabwean pop style JIT, or the traditional kateke drumming of his clan, the Korekore.