|
Bright Blue
Bright Blue was a South African band that was prominent on the progressive scene in the final years of apartheid. The band's name "reflected the paradox of being bright in a very blue time" but was also a tribute to Chelsea FC. They are best known for the protest song " Weeping", written by keyboard-player Dan Heymann, that the band recorded incorporating strands of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" at a time when public performance of the ANC anthem could lead to summary arrest. However, the powers that be seemed to notice neither the reference to a banned tune nor that the song was an allegory about then State President PW Botha and the state of emergency that he had imposed. In 1999, "Weeping" was voted the "All-time favourite South African song" in a poll by SA Rock Digest/Amuzine. The Radio Rats' 1979 hit, "ZX Dan", was placed second, while "Scatterlings of Africa" (1983) by Johnny Clegg and Juluka was third. The song was covered by Qkumba Zoo in 1996, Soweto String Quartet feat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was characterised by an authoritarian political culture based on ''baasskap'' (boss-hood or boss-ship), which ensured that South Africa was dominated politically, socially, and economically by the nation's minority white population. According to this system of social stratification, white citizens had the highest status, followed by Indians and Coloureds, then black Africans. The economic legacy and social effects of apartheid continue to the present day. Broadly speaking, apartheid was delineated into ''petty apartheid'', which entailed the segregation of public facilities and social events, and ''grand apartheid'', which dictated housing and employment opportunities by race. The first apartheid law was the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soweto String Quartet
The Soweto String Quartet is a string quartet from Soweto in South Africa composed of Reuben Khemese, Makhosini Mnguni, Sandile Khemese and Thami Khemese. Their music is a fusion of the "dance rhythms of Kwela, the syncopated guitars of Mbaqanga, the saxophones and trumpets of swaying African jazz and the voices of people singing in joyous, easy harmony". The Soweto String Quartet is autonomous and independent and has not affiliated with any organisation or institution since its inception. The quartet became a full-time professional outfit in 1992. They performed at President Mandela's inauguration, after which Mandela started recommending them for other jobs. The album ''Zebra Crossing'' peaked at number 16 and ''Renaissance'' peaked at number 29 on the Australian ARIA Charts. Discography * ''Zebra Crossing'' (1994) * ''Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Basil Coetzee
Basil "Manenberg" Coetzee (2 February 1944 – 11 March 1998) was a South African musician, perhaps best known as a saxophone, saxophonist. Biography Coetzee was born in District Six, Cape Town, South Africa. Mountain Records describes Coetzee thus: His distinctive raunchy tenor sound and the untiring commitment to his cultural roots made him one of the best known jazzmen to come out of South Africa. He earned the nickname "Manenberg" after the hugely successful collaboration with Dollar Brand in the late seventies. Basil toured and recorded extensively with Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim). Together with Robbie Jansen they created the unique brass sound of the group The Pacific Express inspiring many younger cape jazz musicians in Cape Town. He is probably best known for his recording work with Abdullah Ibrahim (previously known as Dollar Brand). Ibrahim recorded his composition "Mannenberg" with Coetzee – it became an enormous hit in the townships and impressed musicians as the recor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Louise Carver (South African Singer)
Louise Carver (born 10 January 1979) is a South African folk rock singer-songwriter and pianist. Carver was born in Cape Town, and holds dual citizenship in South Africa and the United Kingdom. She began playing piano at the age of 11, and received her first recording contract at the age of 15. She matriculated at the Rustenburg School for Girls, matriculating in 1996. She earned an honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Cape Town in 2002."Louise Carver," ''Who's Who Southern Africa''. Found a''Who's Who SA''. Accessed 29 September 2010. Music Carver released her first single, ''It Don't Matter'' (1996) when she was 17. The single topped the South African National Campus Charts. It spent 11 weeks on the South African National Top 40 Charts, where it peaked at the number three position. At age 18 she followed the single with her debut album, ''Mirrors and Windows'' (1998). First for Women, a South African insurance company, sponsored Carver's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won multiple awards, including five Grammy Awards, dedicating their fifth Grammy to the late former President Nelson Mandela. Formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, Ladysmith Black Mambazo became one of South Africa's most prolific recording artists, with their releases receiving gold and platinum disc honours. The group became a mobile academy of South African cultural heritage through their African indigenous ''isicathamiya'' music. History Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo because of a series of dreams he had in 1964, in which he heard certain ''isicathamiya'' harmonies (''isicathamiya'' being the traditional music of the Zulu people). Following their local success at wedding ceremonies and other gatherings, Shabalala entered th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Josh Groban
Joshua Winslow Groban (born February 27, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. His first four solo albums have been certified multi-platinum, and he was charted in 2007 as the number-one best selling artist in the United States, with over 22.3 million records. , he had sold over 25 million records worldwide. Groban originally studied acting, but moved to singing as his voice developed. He attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, a free public school on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, where students receive a conservatory-style education. David Foster called Josh to stand in for an ailing Andrea Bocelli to rehearse a duet, " The Prayer", with Celine Dion at the rehearsal for the 1998 Grammy Awards. Rosie O'Donnell immediately invited him to appear on her talk show. Foster asked him to sing at California Governor Gray Davis' 1999 inauguration. He was cast on '' Ally McBeal'' by the show's creator, David E. Kelley, performing " ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soweto Gospel Choir
The Soweto Gospel Choir is a South African gospel group. History The Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in Soweto, South Africa, by David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, and producers Andrew Kay, David Vigo and Cliff Hocking in 2002. The more than 30-member ensemble blends elements of African gospel, Negro spirituals, reggae and American popular music. The group performed at the first of the 46664 concerts for Nelson Mandela and has since toured internationally several times. Their albums ''Blessed,'' ''African Spirit'' and ''Freedom'' won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album in 2006, 2007 and 2018, respectively. On 7 July 2007 they performed at the South African leg of Live Earth. Also in 2007, they joined Robert Plant in contributing to '' Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino'' (Vanguard Records), performing their version of Domino's "Valley of Tears". The group was featured on the Peter Gabriel/Thomas Newman song " Down to Earth", written for Pixar's 2008 fea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vusi Mahlasela
Vusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane (born 1965 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a Sotho South African singer-songwriter. His music is generally described as "African folk" and he is often dubbed as "The Voice" of South Africa. His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement. His themes include the struggle for freedom, and forgiveness and reconciliation with enemies. Vusi has released seven studio albums on Sony in South Africa and was signed to Dave Matthews' ATO Records in 2003. Vusi can also be heard performing on Warren Haynes' ''Live at Bonnaroo'' release during the song "Soulshine", and the Dave Matthews Band song, "Everyday", from the album of the same name as well as a live version of the song with him which appears on the album ''The Best of What's Around Vol. 1''. Vusi was also one of the performers at the Live 8 concerts and at Live Earth. Vusi performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration in 1994 and has subsequently performed at Nelson Mandela 90th Birthd ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Qkumba Zoo
Qkumba Zoo is a South African dance music duo from Johannesburg, South Africa, consisting of vocalist Levannah and musician/producer Owl. The band was originally formed by Owl and Levannah as a duo called Ocean Road. In 1996 the band was a trio and consisted of Owl, Levannah, and dancer/sculptor Tziki. The band's 1996 song " The Child (Inside)" was a hit in the United States, reaching number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. ''BIG'' Qkumba Zoo's first release was in 1995 titled ''BIG'', and it was released in South Africa on Gresham Records. At the time, the band's name was spelled 'Qcumba Zoo', and even Tziki's name was the elongated 'Tsatsiki'. The booklet contained a colourful, busy design, featuring original artwork from Tziki, and pictures from Qcumba's stage shows. The title track on ''BIG'' has slightly different music and vocals from its subsequent release on ''Wake Up & Dream'', and "The Child (Inside)" has a fading o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chelsea FC
Chelsea Football Club is an English professional football club based in Fulham, West London. Founded in 1905, they play their home games at Stamford Bridge. The club competes in the Premier League, the top division of English football. They won their first major honour, the League championship, in 1955. The club won the FA Cup for the first time in 1970, their first European honour, the Cup Winners' Cup, in 1971, and became the third English club to win the Club World Cup in 2022. Chelsea are one of five clubs to have won all three pre-1999 main European club competitions, and the only club to have won all three major European competitions twice. They are also the only London club to have won the Champions League and the Club World Cup. Domestically, the club has won six league titles, eight FA Cups, five League Cups, and four FA Community Shields. Internationally, they have won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scatterlings Of Africa
"Scatterlings of Africa" is a 1982 song by the South African band Juluka, first released on their 1982 album ''Scatterlings''. It was re-released in 1987 by Juluka's successor band Savuka on ''Third World Child''. The song was a commercial success, charting in France and the United Kingdom. Its lyrics explore the "myriad dislocations" experienced by South Africa. The rousing and upbeat music incorporated Zulu influences. The song introduced the music of Johnny Clegg, the cofounder of Juluka and Savuka, to Western audiences. Background and composition Juluka (meaning "sweat" in Zulu) was founded in 1969 by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. They mixed Zulu music with influences from rock and Celtic music. As a multiracial band in apartheid-era South Africa, Juluka frequently had trouble with the police, and their songs were banned by state-run radio stations, but their brand of Afro-pop nonetheless became popular. The song's lyrics have been described as "reflecting the myriad disl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Radio Rats
The Radio Rats was a South African rock group formed in 1977Album liner notes for ''Into the Night We Slide'', The Radio Rats, Fresh Music, 2002 CD re-issue in Springs, Gauteng, by Jonathan Handley (lead guitar and background vocals), Dave Davies on lead vocals and Herbie Parkin on bass, with various drummers. Leonard Dixon is remembered as the group's drummer during its most famous period. "The Rats", as they are known colloquially, are notable for their 1979 hit "ZX Dan". In 1978, the group recorded a ten-song LP called '' Into the Night We Slide''. The album immediately created a stir, in particular with its kick-off single, "ZX Dan", which peaked at no. 2 on Johannesburg-based Radio 5 (now called "5FM"). It was kept off the number one position by Michael Jackson. Critical reception The South African Rock Lists website lists ''Into the Night We Slide'' as one of the top ten local rock albums of the seventies, along with Hawk’s ''African Day'' (1971), Freedom’s Childrenâ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
