Her music career began as a vocalist with the Wilbur Music Group in the early
1970s. She appeared in various musicals, culminating in an overseas tour (from 1973 to 1976) with the musical Meropa (also known as KwaZulu).
On her return in 1976 she embarked on a solo career, making a name for herself through live performance and as a backing singer on albums by established musicians such as Hugh Masekela and Sipho Gumede. She
does not write her own material but did release several singles including “Take Me To The River” (1981) and the album Mara in 1982.
She was very involved in the setting up of the South African Musicians Alliance (SAMA) and was the first President of the Association. She is still involved in music, including as a judge on the South African version of Idols. In 2009 she released the album African Hymns along with The African Methodist Choir.
Discography
Soweto-based duo, Marc and Alex Rantselli, who began as part of the group August Formation in the mid-1980s and were backing vocalists for Chicco.
They made a big impact on the South African music scene with the release of their single “Quick, quick” in 1989.
They initially released three albums: Marcalex (1988), Boys B Boys (1990) and Yeah (1991). A subsequent album Ai Ai Ai (Stolen My Heart) was released in 2008.
Margaret M’cingana changed her name to Singana when she began releasing music as a solo artist. Born in Queenstown she moved to Johannesburg to work but developed a music career in the mid-1960s, appearing in musicals and with various groups.
She rose to fame with her appearance in the musical Ipi Tombi and the release of her third single, the song “Mama Thembu’s wedding” (1973) from that show.
She released several albums and singles throughout the 1970s but a stroke in 1980 was a severe setback. She still managed to release two further new albums in the 1980s, and had lots of radio exposure with “We are growing” (1986), the theme song to a television series about King Shaka.
She died in April 2000, having suffered from a long illness.
A West Nkosi produced group with Munich Sibiya (lead vocal), Marks Mbuthuma (guitar, vocals), Simon Falatsi (guitar, vocals), John Mothopeng (Acoustic piano, vocals) and Felani Spades (Linn Synthesiser).
Released the single “Toitoi” in 1981 and the album Modiehi in 1982.
