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Muchanza Akapelwa otherwise known as Dr Mooch was born in Lusaka, Zambia on July 8th 1967. He attended Northmead Primary School and transferred to Jacaranda Primary school. He then went to Kafue Boys Secondary School where to escape mockery and boredom, he briefly sung alto in the choir, this indirectly sparked interest in performing. In grade 10 he transferred to Munali Boys Secondary School during the Break Dancing craze of the early 1980’s.
He competed in Break Dancing competitions at variety shows and then formed a duo with Kaluba Chilaisha called “The Gastricks”. Four more members Mwiza Kaonga, Delux Dilamono, Derrick Silweya, and John Kamanga joined to rename the group “The Breakfreeze” who went on to perform in various venues and the local ZNBC TV show “Time for Music”. After completing High School he composed and recorded mouthed music on cassettes as a hobby. In 1986 he moved to Tanzania where he studied for the International Baccalaureate Diploma at the International School of Tanganyika.
It is there that he started organizing and performing in Peace Galas on the 24th October every year to commemorate the founding of the United Nations Organization and celebrate Zambia’s independence day. This was also to raise funds which given to Charity and Orphanages that were affiliated with the school. After graduating in 1989, he moved to America to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania where he continued organising and performing in annual Peace Galas. In College while playing on the soccer team, the nick name “Mooch” short for Muchanza was coined by his team mates. 1991 he wrote and published “Dreadlock” an abstract Play under the name “Dr Mooch” and that became the stage name. In 1992 Dr Mooch was awarded Pennsylvania’s “Good Citizenship Award” for organizing students to perform in the Peace Galas, calling for World Peace and Community service.
It was at the 1992 Peace Gala that he met Roger Bashew a record Producer who recorded ten songs for his “Safari” album debut which was not released. Frustrated, 1993 to 94 he spent a year in Ethiopia where he wrote “Providence” a spiritual self help book and got into Rastafarianism. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and International Relations, he moved to Seattle, Washington where he worked on Ships in Alaska. It is there that he wrote and published “Recital” an abstract book of short stories. In 1997 he was blessed with a son, Jonah. In 2000 he moved to Orlando, Florida and got a job in Property Management. It was not until 2003 that Dr Mooch’s musical juices where rekindled after witnessing and experiencing racial injustice.
He recorded “Mini Mini”, “Why Worry Yourself”, and “Rockers” with RGB Music in Los Angeles, California. In 2004 he recorded “My Number One” and “Easy Rider” with Jimmy Blakenship at Ridenour Studios in Oakland, Florida. In 2005 he teamed up with Jamaican record Producer Zemroy Lewis of Zimma Entertainment in Sunrise, Florida to record “We Feel Irie”, “Practice What You Preach”, “Liberty”, “Virginia”, and “Take it Easy”. In 2006, Dr Mooch’s “Eazzy Duzzit” album was finally self-published and released under the Dr Mooch Productions label. It was a labour of love. From 2005 to 2008 Dr Mooch performed locally with Skyhigh Band.
In 2007 the Global Marijuana Music Awards awarded “Eazzy Duzzit” as their 2007 Album of the year. “Eazzy Duzzit” received favourable reviews and airplay on various Reggae radio shows world wide. In 2012 a cassette with the defunct “Safari” album songs was discovered in a trunk then remastered and released under the Mwandi Creations label. In 2014 Dr Mooch returned to Zambia, got a job and in 2016 put out a “Best of Dr Mooch” cd with G Sounds to promote the music locally. In 2018, the Doc is preparing to tour with a Zambian reggae band, look out for a tour coming soon…
He competed in Break Dancing competitions at variety shows and then formed a duo with Kaluba Chilaisha called “The Gastricks”. Four more members Mwiza Kaonga, Delux Dilamono, Derrick Silweya, and John Kamanga joined to rename the group “The Breakfreeze” who went on to perform in various venues and the local ZNBC TV show “Time for Music”. After completing High School he composed and recorded mouthed music on cassettes as a hobby. In 1986 he moved to Tanzania where he studied for the International Baccalaureate Diploma at the International School of Tanganyika.
It is there that he started organizing and performing in Peace Galas on the 24th October every year to commemorate the founding of the United Nations Organization and celebrate Zambia’s independence day. This was also to raise funds which given to Charity and Orphanages that were affiliated with the school. After graduating in 1989, he moved to America to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania where he continued organising and performing in annual Peace Galas. In College while playing on the soccer team, the nick name “Mooch” short for Muchanza was coined by his team mates. 1991 he wrote and published “Dreadlock” an abstract Play under the name “Dr Mooch” and that became the stage name. In 1992 Dr Mooch was awarded Pennsylvania’s “Good Citizenship Award” for organizing students to perform in the Peace Galas, calling for World Peace and Community service.
It was at the 1992 Peace Gala that he met Roger Bashew a record Producer who recorded ten songs for his “Safari” album debut which was not released. Frustrated, 1993 to 94 he spent a year in Ethiopia where he wrote “Providence” a spiritual self help book and got into Rastafarianism. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and International Relations, he moved to Seattle, Washington where he worked on Ships in Alaska. It is there that he wrote and published “Recital” an abstract book of short stories. In 1997 he was blessed with a son, Jonah. In 2000 he moved to Orlando, Florida and got a job in Property Management. It was not until 2003 that Dr Mooch’s musical juices where rekindled after witnessing and experiencing racial injustice.
He recorded “Mini Mini”, “Why Worry Yourself”, and “Rockers” with RGB Music in Los Angeles, California. In 2004 he recorded “My Number One” and “Easy Rider” with Jimmy Blakenship at Ridenour Studios in Oakland, Florida. In 2005 he teamed up with Jamaican record Producer Zemroy Lewis of Zimma Entertainment in Sunrise, Florida to record “We Feel Irie”, “Practice What You Preach”, “Liberty”, “Virginia”, and “Take it Easy”. In 2006, Dr Mooch’s “Eazzy Duzzit” album was finally self-published and released under the Dr Mooch Productions label. It was a labour of love. From 2005 to 2008 Dr Mooch performed locally with Skyhigh Band.
In 2007 the Global Marijuana Music Awards awarded “Eazzy Duzzit” as their 2007 Album of the year. “Eazzy Duzzit” received favourable reviews and airplay on various Reggae radio shows world wide. In 2012 a cassette with the defunct “Safari” album songs was discovered in a trunk then remastered and released under the Mwandi Creations label. In 2014 Dr Mooch returned to Zambia, got a job and in 2016 put out a “Best of Dr Mooch” cd with G Sounds to promote the music locally. In 2018, the Doc is preparing to tour with a Zambian reggae band, look out for a tour coming soon…
