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Related Gallery Soul Brothers (South Africa)

Cape Town Intnl
Jazz Fest 2008
STALWARTS of South Africa’s
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music scene, the Soul
Cape Town Intnl
Brothers have recorded over
Jazz Festival 2008 -
30 albums since their
lineup
formation in 1974.
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Initially formed in KwaZulu
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Natal, the group have
remained the slickest and
most successful proponents
of the mbaqanga sound
Print version
which dominated South
African urban music for over
three decades

While their costume,

choreography and some
harmonies bear comparison
to the American Soul music
which inspired them, the
group originated a sound and
style which captivated South African audiences, most especially amongst migrant labourers who under
Apartheid, were forced to leave rural homes to seek work in the cities.

The Soul Brothers themselves trod this path to Joburg, and it was this shared frame of reference which
endeared the group to the massive working class audience of South African cities.

The band was built around the rhythm section comprising bassist Zenzele "Zakes" Mchunu, drummer
David Masondo, and guitarist Tuza Mthethwa who first played together in the “Groovy Boys?in Kwazulu
Natal, and later as part of the “Young Brothers?

It was in Joburg that keyboardist Moses Ngwenya joined to create

Instrumentation: the Soul Brothers, and David Masondo made the move from drums
band to lead vocals. The combination of Masondo’s quavering soprano
voice and Ngwenya’s percussive Hammond organ playing gave the
Genre: mbaqanga Soul Brothers a unique and instantly recognizable sound. This core
rhythm section was typically augmented with a brass section,
guitars, and multiple vocal harmonies.

Although the Soul Brothers enjoyed massive acclaim and commercial success, the audience remained
limited to South Africa, and neighbouring states. In 1983, members of the group travelled to Botswana,
where they worked with the then-exiled Hugh Masekela, affording a mbaqanga underpinning to his
seminal “Technobush" album.

Car crashes saw the deaths of three band members in 1979, and then bassist and founder member Zakes
Mchunu in 1984. Despite these setbacks, Masondo and Ngwenya continued, performing with an expanded
group that included not only musicians, but dedicated dancers.

The Soul Brothers visited UK and Europe in

1990 on their first international tour. Despite
international releases, the group remain
primarily a domestic phenomenon, who
continue to notch album after album achieving
gold status. They also operate their own
successful recording, publishing and
entertainment companies.

This biography Steve Gordon 2004

Recordings : Soul Brothers

Amanikiniki Kuze Kuse Isithothobala

10/11/2012
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click here for more about these and other recordings by : Soul Brothers

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10/11/2012