Preserving South African Musical History
Formed in 1981 by Sipho Mabuse, to record just one album – Soweto Soul Orchestra – which was a prelude to Mabuse’s solo career.
He used a variety of musicians including vocalist Malie Kelly on the track “Take It Easy”.
It was a one-off exercise and thereafter Mabuse left Harari and pursued a solo career proper.
Spirits Rejoice was a jazz-fusion band formed in 1975 by bassist Sipho Gumede (1952 – 2004), and pianist, saxophonist, guitarist Bheki Mseleku (1955 – 2008). The band released two albums, African Spaces (1977) and Spirits Rejoice (1978). Their single “Shine On” charted on Capital Radio 604’s Top 20 chart in 1980.
Reggae band formed in the early 1980s.
Recorded two songs, “Who say so?” and “He Knows” released on the Regional Jive compilation by Observatory Productions in Cape Town in 1983.
In 1983 two members of the group Splash – Jose Charles and Rufus Radebe – were sentenced to effective four-year prison terms (later reduced to 17 months) for singing ‘revolutionary songs’ at a Wits Free People’s Concert.
One of the songs was a cover of Steel Pulse’s “A Tribute to Martyrs”, which included a reference to Nelson Mandela.
Steve Kekana is a successful South African singer who started out with The Hunter in 1974 before becoming a solo artist in the late 1970s.
He is very much a pop singer who is able to sing in a variety of African languages as well as in English.
Already established in the black South African market, he successfully crossed-over into the white English market with the single “Raising my family” (1980), which reached number one in Finland and Number 3 in Sweden.
His career went into decline after his involvement in the Bureau for Information’s “Together we will build a brighter future” (1986) but he continues to record and release albums.
Singer who was born in Dundee, Scotland and began his music career in the UK, including in the band Scene Stealers. After they broke up Irving came to South Africa and joined Ballyhoo as vocalist.
In 1985 he launched a parallel solo career, releasing his first single ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’. A subsequent single, ‘Superstar’ received airplay and television coverage.
He released further singles in the 80s and in 1991 left Ballyhoo.
Formed in Johannesburg in 1981, comprising several veterans who had been part of the South African music scene for years. They evolved out of The Cannibals with Ray Phiri (guitar), Isaac Mtshali (drums), Lloyd Lelosa (keyboards), Jabu Sibumbe (bass) and Charles Ndlovu (synthesizer).
While Phiri and Mtshali had been members of The Cannibals, Lelosa and Sibumbe joined from The Movers. In 1985 Janji Mayo replaced Jabu Sibumbe.
In 1982 they released their first album Mama Wami and in 1983 “they released their first (12”) single “I Hate Telling A Lie”/“I Love You.
During the 1980s they released several classic albums such as Fire, Passion, Ecstasy (1984), Shadows, Fear and Pain (1985), Look, Listen and Decide (1986), Unfinished Story (1987) and Trouble In The Land of Plenty (1989).
They worked with Paul Simon on the Graceland album, bringing international attention to their music. In 1992 Ray Phiri left the group to embark on a solo career. The band continued with releases into the 1990s and a much later album, A Lifetime … in 2010.
Russell Stirling and Michael Tellinger were a vocal and guitar duo.
Russell Stirling had previously been bass player for Rooster (formed 1978) while Michael Tellinger had started a solo career with the release of the single “Hazel” in 1982. Shortly after that duo came together and released the single “Call Me” in 1983, along with the album Talking From The Heart.
In 1984 they released a follow-up single “Nice Girl” but were unable to secure any further releases. They broke up after four years together. They released a best of CDr compilation in 2002, including the two new versions of the two above-mentioned singles.
Johannesburg studio group formed by Glynn Storm in 1982, after the demise of Backtrax.
It was composed and produced by Glynn Storm and JB Arthur. They released the album Half A Loaf in 1982.
Storm transitioned into African Image later that year.
Emerged on the Johannesburg music scene in the mid-1970s.
In the early 80s she formed The Insisters but when the group broke up in 1983 she went solo, releasing the single “I’m Amazed”/“Someone” which did not sell many copies and so no follow-up singles were released.
Thereafter she continued to perform music but on the fringes, with no more official releases.
In 2007 she recorded 9 songs with ex-Kerel Gary Herselman but those were not officially released.
Cape Town band formed in 1982. John Mair (guitar), Ayala Katz (vocals), Dieter Stutz (bass, keyboards) and Lesley Cook (drums). Recorded a promo Partners in Crime in 1982. Soon after Katz left to pursue a solo career.
She was replaced by Wendy Oldfield. The new line up released a further demo Catch That Sweaty Feeling in 1984 and then the singles “This Boy” and “Shape of Her Body” in 1985 and “Tonite” in 1987 and the album No Sweat in 1986.
In 1987 Oldfield left the group to embark on a solo career.
The band continued for a while but did not release any further music. John Mair died in November 2002.
Photograph of Sweatband courtesy of Harold Gess Photography.
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