Johannesburg-based singer who first appeared on the music scene with The Dining Brothers in the mid-1950s. In 1959 he joined the cast of the musical King Kong.
In 1964 he contributed towards the score of Gibson Kente’s musical Manana – The Jazz Prophet. He later joined the cast of Sponono with whom he toured the USA.
He did not return to South Africa at the time and instead joined A&M records as a songwriter and producer. He married Letta Mbulu. Over the next two decades he worked with several USA musicians including Quincy Jones. Lou Rawls and Michael Jackson.
He released his first solo album, Listen To The Wind in 1982, it included the single “Angelina”. He went on to record the album Streams Today, Rivers Tomorrow (1984) and Woman Got A Right To Be (1996).
He has also recorded and released music with Letta Mbulu.
Band formed in Cape Town in 1987 for the musical Cape Town: David Kramer (vocals), Taliep Petersen (vocals, banjo), Issie Ariefdien (guitar, bass, vocals), Paul Petersen (vocals, guitar, bass), Onyx Phillips (keyboards), Monty Webber (drums, percussion), Madeegha Anders (vocals).
Released the album Cape Town in 1988. Original songs composed by David Kramer and Taliep Petersen. All original lyrics written by David Kramer. Saxophone on the album was performed by Basil Coetzee, Robbie Jansen and Victor Kula.
Carlos Dje Dje: Pretoria-based South African reggae musician who appeared on the music scene in the 1970s. He released the singles “Jah Hu Akbaar” in 1983 and “Children Children” with The Prisoners in 1988.
He also released the albums Born in the Ghetto (1983), Ahoy Afrika (1988, with the Prisoners), No Apartheid (1993) and Remember Them (year unknown). He supported Peter Tosh when he performed in Swaziland in 1983 and has performed internationally including in Jamaica.
Johannesburg-based studio duo formed by Keith Berel (guitar, vocals and other instruments) and Dieter Smith (bass).
Released the singles “Walk Away” and “Killer In The Crowd” and the album Far Cry, all in 1986.
Formed in Durban in 1987 with Kevin van Staden (vocals), Gary Turner (guitar), Lars Lofstrand (bass), Sean Schulze (keyboards) and Ross Campbell (drums). Geoff Wybrow replaced Campbell on drums.
Released their debut single “Slow Rain” and album This Day in 1989.
Their second album, Greed, followed in 1990. They broke up in 1991.
Kevin van Staden died in a car accident in 1995.
Formed in Johannesburg in 1984. James Phillips (guitar, vocals). Lee Edwards (bass), Michael de la Hunt (drums) replaced by Richard Vos.
Released the album Live At Jamesons in 1985.
Recorded The Otherwhite Album in the late 1980s but it was not released until 1992.
Final album was Sunny Skies (1993) released as James Philips and the Lurchers with James Phillips, Lee Edwards and various new members and session musicians.
The Cherry Faced Lurchers developed a cult following in the 1980s and performed live over the years, including the performance of many songs that have not been released on any of their albums.
James Phillips died in 1995 from injuries incurred in a car accident.
Soweto-based musician Sello Twala began his music career as percussionist for Umoja in 1983. He went on to join Harari in 1984 and in 1985 he recorded his first solo single, “We Can Dance” followed by the single “Move Over” and the album I Need Money in 1986.
Further albums included We Miss You Manelow (1987), Soldier (1989), Soldier With a Gun (1989), Thina Sizwe Esimnyama (1989) and Papa Stop The War (1990).
He went on to release several more albums over the next decade and half and made a name for himself as a producer, producing albums for the likes of Brenda Fassie and Chimora.
Cindy Dickinson was born, grew up and began her music career in the UK. She visited her sister in South Africa in the early 1980s and decided to stay.
She began her solo music career with the release of the single “Love Stealer” in 1982. In 1984 she became the vocalist for the group Syndicate and from there went on to join People Like Us in 1986.
After the death of band member Paul Crossley in 1989 Dickinson left People Like Us.
She continued to work in the music industry and married (now) former Capital Radio DJ Dave Guselli. She still lives in South Africa.
Formed in Johannesburg in 1986. Ian Vyle (drums, lead vocals), Alan Lazar (keyboards), Ralph Martin (guitar), Chris Frank (acoustic guitar, bass, percussion, vocals), Craig Parsons (keyboards, vocals), Kevin Kruger (drums). This line-up recorded the album Cinema, released in 1986.
Jarrod Aston joined as lead vocalist for their 2nd album Somewhere in Time released in 1988. It included their biggest hit single “My Kind of Girl” and a second single “Inside and Out”.
They went on to release three further albums over the next eight years, and went through various line-up changes with Alan Lazar, Ian Vyle, Chris Frank leaving the band.
A Johannesburg band formed in 1979 with Rick Wolf on keyboards and vocals, Joe Alves on guitar, Chris Ghelakis on bass, John Weddepohl on vocals and keyboards and Neil McKellar on drums.
The band released an album (City Limits) in 1980 and three singles which met with fair success in South Africa, including on Capital Radio.
They broke up without recording a further album.
