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Mbaqanga

The Makgona Tsohle Band

Submitted by Roanman on Fri, 02/08/2019 - 17:53

It's Friday Night.

Time to rock.

Formed in 1963 in Johannesburg, South Africa by the Gallo Record Company to cut supporting tracks for their Mbqanga vocal artists, The Makgona Tshole Band, "The Band That Can Play Everything" ranks among the greatest session bands in the history of recorded music.

Name your favorite studio outfit: The Funk Brothers, Swampers, Wrecking Crew, Booker T and the MGs ... you just go right ahead and choose ... The Makgona Tshole Band's work stands up to all of them.

From left to right this is, I don't know but I'm working on it, on the accordian, Vivian Ngubane along with the great Marks Mankwane stepping dangerously with untied shoelaces, on their guitars, Lucky Monama on the drums, Joseph Makwela on bass guitar, and West Nkosi on his saxaphone.

Stockvel Jive.

Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens ..... again

Submitted by Roanman on Sun, 09/16/2012 - 21:12

 

We have never, up until this instant, posted twice on the same band.

I'm doing it today because the tune I was looking for when I wrote the original post for Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens was nowhere to be found.

I finally found it.

One of my favorite bands of all time, Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens helped invent the Mbaqanga sound of the Soweto townships in the late 60's through the late 80's and were it's greatest practitioners.

They were really three distinct outfits in one, as producer Rupert Bopape assembled the Makgona Tsohle Band (the band that can do anything) who at the time were South Africa’s premier studio outfit, with the Mahotella Queens and "The Lion of Soweto, Simon “Mahlathini” Nkabinde greatest of South Africa’s “groaning style” singers.

This is Marks Mankwane, one of popular music’s all time innovative guitarists playing lead guitar, Vivian Ngubane (I think) playing rhythm guitar, Joseph Makwela on bass, Lucky Monama on drums.  I don’t have the keyboards figured out.  

The Mahotella Queens are Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola.

And of course that’s the late, great Mahlathini groaning away.

Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens.

Lilizela Milizeli.

Which, loosley translated, means get down Mama it's time to rock.

 

 

Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens

Submitted by Roanman on Sun, 05/01/2011 - 16:31

 

One of my favorite bands of all time, Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens helped invent the Mbaqanga sound of the Soweto townships in the late 60's through the late 80's and were it's greatest practitioners.

I can't say it, but I sure know it when I hear it.

They were really three distinct outfits in one, as producer Rupert Bopape assembled the Makgona Tsohle Band (the band that can do anything) who at the time were South Africa’s premier studio group, with the Mahotella Queens and Simon “Mahlathini” Nkabinde (The Lion of Soweto) greatest of South Africa’s “groaning style” singers.

This is Marks Mankwane, one of popular music’s all time most innovative guitarists playing lead, Vivian Ngubane (I think) playing rhythm guitar, Joseph Makwela on bass, Lucky Monama on drums.  I don’t have the keyboards figured out yet.  The female vocalists are Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola and of course that’s the late, great Mahlathini groaning away.

Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens.

Stop Crying.

 

 

Apologies for the abrupt ending.

There are not a lot of vids out there for this band.

As an aside it was Mahlathini who introduced Ted Nugent to his tailor.

 

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