Rabbitt were a South African art-rock/pop band that was active for six years during the 1970s. Formed in 1972 by teenage guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Trevor Rabin, the band settled on a stable recording lineup in 1975 with the arrival of like-minded talent Duncan Faure. The band released three albums on the local Jo’Burg label between 1975 and […]
Trevor Rabin (born Jan. 13, 1984) is a South African-born/U.S.-naturalized guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer with a musical career that dates to the early 1970s. He first emerged in the Johannesburg art-rock/pop band Rabbitt, which he joined at age 18 in 1972. Rabbitt scored locally with the chart-topping symphonic-ballad “Charlie” and the album Boys Will […]
The Soul of the City was a South African jazz-funk/soul studio project that accounted for three mid-1970s albums with variants of the title City Soul. The first release in the series is a 1974 all-star compilation on Satbel-imprint Soweto with tracks by Care Free, Margaret Singana, and the Superlove Band. The following two albums are […]
Mike Makhalemele (June 10, 1938 — May 6, 2000) was a South African saxophonist from Alexandra, Gauteng, who released the album The Peacemaker on Jo’Burg in 1975. During this period, he also appeared on albums by Margaret Singana, Teaspoon Ndelu, Richard Jon Smith, and The Soul of the City. In 1976, he collaborated with saxist […]
Chris McGregor (Dec. 24, 1936 — May 26, 1990) was a South African jazz pianist and bandleader with a musical career that spanned nearly three decades. He first emerged during the mid-1960s as part of the Blue Notes, a Cape Town sextet that also launched the careers of Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani, and Louis Moholo. […]
Tete Mbambisa (born 1942) is a South African pianist and composer from Eastern Cape who recorded the album Inhlupeko Distress with the Soul Jazzmen for the City Special label in 1969. As a bandleader, he released two albums on the Sun Records label between 1976 and 1979. Discography: Tete’s Big Sound (1976) Did You Tell […]
Roots were a South African jazz-funk band that released two albums on Highway Soul in 1975. Members: Barney Rachabane (alto saxophone), Dennis Mpale (trumpet), Duke Makhasa (tenor saxophone), Sipho Gumede (bass), Peter Morake (drums), Jabu Nkosi (organ) Discography: Roots (1975) Deeper Roots (1975)
The Soul Throbs were a South African soul-jazz band that released three albums on the Soul Soul label between 1974 and 1976. Members: David Thekwane (producer) Discography: The Soul Throbs (1974) Millie Come Back (1975) Thiba Ka Moo (1976)
Movement in the City were a South African jazz-funk band from Johannesburg that released two albums on The Sun label between 1979 and 1981. Members: Pops Mohamed (keyboards), Basil Coetzee (tenor saxophone), Robbie Jansen (alto saxophone), Sipho Gumede (bass), Roger Harry (drums), Gilbert Mathews (drums, 1979) Discography: Movement in the City (1979) Black Teardrops (1981)
Spirits Rejoice were a South African jazz-funk band that released the album African Spaces on Atlantic in 1977, followed by Spirits Rejoice! on Jo’Burg in 1978. Members: George Tyefumani (trumpet, percussion, vocals), Thabo Mashishi (trumpet), Duke Makasi (tenor/soprano saxophone), Robbie Jansen (vocals, flute, alto saxophone), Mervyn Africa (piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, ARP synthesizer, strings), […]
Circus were a South African hard-rock/pop band from Port Elizabeth that released the album In the Arena with two accompanying singles on EMI-subsidiary Sunshine Records in 1977. The members also handled instrumental chores on the studio recordings by contemporaneous girl band Clout. Members: Bernie Millar (vocals), Bones Brettell (keyboards), Gary van Zyl (bass), Sandy Robbie […]
Kabasa were a South African funk band from Soweto that released two albums on Atlantic in 1980/81, followed by a third on Lyncell Records in 1982. Members: Robert “Doc” Mthalane (guitar), Tata “TNT” Sibeko (bass, vocals), Oupa Segwai (percussion) Discography: Kabasa (1980) Searching (1981) African Sunset (1982)
Hugh Masekela (April 4, 1939 — Jan. 23, 2018) was a South African cornetist and flugelhorn player from Witbank, Mpumalanga. Discography: Trumpet Africane (1962) Grrr (1966) Hugh Masekela’s Next Album (1966) The Americanization of Ooga Booga (1966) Hugh Masekela’s Latest (1967) The Emancipation of Hugh Masekela (1967) Masekela (1968) The Promise of a Future (1968) […]
Harari were a South African funk band that released the album Rufaro Happiness on The Sun label in 1976, followed by 10 further albums on Gallo and Rufaro between 1977 and 1986. Members: Saitana [aka Monty Ndimande] (guitar), Selby Ntuli (guitar), Condry Ziqubu, Alec Khaoli (bass), Robert Doc Mthalane (guitar), Sipho Mabuse (drums, saxophone, vocals, […]
éVoid were a South African New Wave band from Johannesburg that released two albums with accompanying singles on WEA between 1983 and 1986. Members: Lucien Windrich (vocals, guitar), Erik Windrich (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Terry Andalis (bass, 1977-82), Danny de Wet (drums, 1977-82), José “Aggi” D’Aguiar (vocals, 1977-82), George Voros (percussion, 1977-83), Wayne Harker (drums, 1983-present) […]
Abstract Truth were a South African psych-rock band that released two albums in the early 1970s. The band was headed by former Freedom’s Children guitarist Kenny Henson, who later recorded solo and in partnership with singer/songwriter Brian Finch. The band’s second album, Totem, also features ex-Third Eye percussionist Robbie Pavid. Members: Kenny Henson (guitar, vocals), […]
Dick Khoza is a Malawi-born Afro-jazz/funk musician who released the album Chapita on the South African Sun (الشمس) label in 1976. The album features performances from Soul of the City trumpeter Themba Mehlomakulu and ubiquitous saxist Ezra Ngcukana, who also appeared on Barney Rachabane’s concurrent Sweet Matara LP. Discography: Chapita (1976)
Hawk were a South African hard-rock/psych band that released two albums on Parlophone during the early 1970s. The band included ex-Suck/Freedom’s Children guitarist Julian Laxton and Tidal Wave drummer Ivor Black. Vocalist Dave Ornellas had fronted 1960s beat group The Idiots. In 1973, Hawk released Live and Well, a concert recording that features the 15-minute […]
Harry Miller (April 25, 1941 — Dec. 16, 1983) was a South African double-bassist who was active on the international jazz and rock scenes for more than two decades. He first emerged as a member of Cape Town rockers The Vikings, which issued two albums on RCA Victor between 1959 and 1961. During the mid-1960s, […]
John Kongos is a South African pop/rock musician, vocalist, and songwriter who was active during the 1960s and early ’70s. He first emerged at age 15 in 1961 as a member of Johannesburg rock ‘n’ roll sensation the G-Men. Within a year, he assumed featured billing in the band’s nameplate. The band scored home-country hits […]
