Hendrik "Koloi" Lebona (born 2 August 1942) was a South Africa guitarist and music producer. [1] He is credited for discovering Brenda Fassie. He died in 2013 at age 71. [2]
Lebona was born in Winburg in the Free State.
Lebona, who grew up in Winburg, attended the Athlone School for the Blind in Cape Town. He founded the short-lived Black Label with Jimmy Mojopelo and Babsy Mlangeni. With Babsy Mlangeni, John Mothopeng, Jimmy Mojapelo, and Sy Falatsi, Lebona formed The All Rounders Band. Lebona and Mlangeni, whom he produced and who had the hit "Sala Emma," later became members of the Black Artists Management label.
In 1979, he promoted the careers of pop singer Brenda Fassie and Ezra Ngcukana, whose debut album he produced in 1989. In 1984, he founded his label Khaya Records, where Saitana (Love Fever), "Special Cane Mahlelebe," and bands such as AFUBI (Get Up and Party) and Bayete (Shosholoza) released records. Together with Sipho Mabuse, he supported Paul Simon in his Graceland project in 1985. He also produced music by Philip Tabane/Malombo, Barney Rachabane, McCoy Mrubata, the African Jazz Pioneers, Jonathan Butler, and Jonas Gwangwa (Flowers of the Nation), among others; he also appeared in the documentary film Under African Skies (2012). He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the South African Music Awards for his life's work. He was also a founding member of the South African Blind Musicians Association.
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