Ballyhoo

Formed in Johannesburg in 1974 with Derrick Drain on vocals, Mick Matthews on guitar and vocals, Attie van Wyk on keyboards, Fergie Ferguson on bass and vocals and Cedric Samson on drums.

The band regularly changed members, with Shane Mahoney replacing Samson on drums, Paul de Villiers (guitar and vocals) replaced Drain who later rejoined, Ralph Martin (guitar) replaced Matthews, Franco del Mei replaced Mahoney.

Drain left again in 1982 along with van Wyk. Stewart Irving joined as vocalist in 1982.

Ballyhoo released several singles and albums in the 1970s and early 1980s. These releases met with varied success and their most successful single was “Man on the moon”, released in 1980.

They didn’t record any new studio songs or albums after the mid-1980s.

Hot RS

Studio band formed in 1977 by Dan Hill and Kevin Kruger, involving various session musicians and singers, including singers Mercedes Kornfield, René Veldsman, John Weddepohl and Jytte Fältskog, guitarist Trevor Rabin, keyboardist Duncan Mackay and drummer Cedric Samson.

Their first album, House Of The Rising Sun (from whence their name is formed) was released in 1977, followed by Forbidden Fruit (1978), In-A-Gadda-Da Vida (EP, 1979) and Heads Or Tails (1980).

Julian Laxton Band

Formed by Julian Laxton in the mid-1970s it was always a studio project
more than a formal band with a fixed lineup which toured. Julian Laxton was initially guitarist with Freedom’s Children and Hawk (in both of these instances he was not one of the original members).

The Julian Laxton Band released one album, Celebrate, in 1977 and several singles which all received radio play on the SABC. These included “Celebrate” (1976), “Blue Water” (1976), “Fooled Around and Fell in Love (1977), “Down The Line” (1977) and “Make A Stand For Love” (1981).

Over the years the Julian Laxton Band included the vocalists Eugene Savage (1976), John Weddepohl (1977), Frankie Gibb (1978), Ronnie Padlas (1980), Cedric Samson (1980) and Huey Bush (1981). Bass guitarists included Trevor Rabin, Ronnie Robot and John Hawkrigg, drummers included Neil Cloud,
Kevin Kruger and Larry Friedburg while keyboard players included and Alan Goldswain and Arthur Stead. The Stockley Sisters and Patrick Van Blerk occasionally featured as backing vocalists.

After 1981 he focused more strongly on film music, writing the very successful theme music for the Shaka Zulu television series, the theme song of which (“We Are Growing” [1986] performed by Margaret Singana) charted in European countries despite the cultural boycott.

He has continued to perform in and around Johannesburg and work as a producer for the likes of Lucky Dube and Mango Groove.

Morocko

Formed in Johannesburg in 1980 with Joe B Arthur (vocals, guitar), Jethro Butow (lead guitar, vocals), Les Goode (bass), Mike Faure (sax), John Galanakis (organ, vocals), Cedric Samson (drums, vocals). Faure left in 1980 and Galanakis.

In 1981 Tim Hoare (keyboards) replaced Galankis and Kendall Kaye joined as drummer at which point Samson switched to lead vocals.

They recorded a self-titled album in 1981 and had marginal success with the single “Bowtie Boogaloo”.

The follow-up single “Don’t leave me halfway” did not do as well. The group’s existence was short-lived and they broke up in 1981.