Letta Mbulu

Last updated

Letta Mbulu
Born (1942-08-23) 23 August 1942 (age 81)
Soweto, South Africa
Genres Jazz, world
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1965–present
Labels Capitol, Chisa, Fantasy, A&M

Letta Mbulu (born 23 August 1942) [1] is a South African jazz singer who has been active since the 1960s.

Contents

Biography

Born and raised in Soweto, South Africa, she has been active as a singer since the 1960s. While still a teenager she toured with the musical King Kong [2] — but left for the United States in 1964 due to Apartheid. [1]

In New York City, she connected with other South African exiles, including Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa, [2] and went on to work with Cannonball Adderley, David Axelrod and Harry Belafonte. [1]

On screen, her singing can also be heard in Roots , The Color Purple (1985), and the 1973 film A Warm December , [3] and she was a guest on a Season 6 episode of Soul Train. Mbulu also provided the Swahili chant in Michael Jackson's single, "Liberian Girl". Producer Quincy Jones has said of her: "Mbulu is the roots lady, projecting a sophistication and warmth which stirs hope for attaining pure love, beauty, and unity in the world." [3]

She is the founding member of the South African Artists United (SAAU), an organisation that was established in 1986. [4]

Personal life

Mbulu is married to musician Caiphus Semenya. [5] As the apartheid regime loomed over people of colour in the 1960s, Mbulu went to the United States, where, in exile, she continued to pursue music. She toured with jazz alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, and also went on to join forces with American singer Harry Belafonte. Together they went on several world tours. Her main musical influences became folk, American Jazz and Brazilian music. [6]

Awards

Discography

With Quincy Jones

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Masekela</span> South African musical artist (1939–2018)

Hugh Ramapolo Masekela was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for writing well-known anti-apartheid songs such as "Soweto Blues" and "Bring Him Back Home". He also had a number-one US pop hit in 1968 with his version of "Grazing in the Grass".

Jerome Richardson was an American jazz musician and woodwind player. He played the soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, soprano clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, piccolo, western concert flute, soprano flute, alto flute, tenor flute, and bass flute. He played with Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Kenny Burrell, and later with Earl Hines' small band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul jazz</span> Music genre

Soul jazz or funky jazz is a subgenre of jazz that incorporates strong influences from hard bop, blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues. Soul jazz is often characterized by organ trios featuring the Hammond organ and small combos including saxophone, brass instruments, electric guitar, bass, drums, piano, vocals and electric organ. Its origins were in the 1950s and early 1960s, with its heyday with popular audiences preceding the rise of jazz fusion in the late 1960s and 1970s. Prominent names in fusion ranged from bop pianists including Bobby Timmons and Junior Mance to a wide range of organists, saxophonists, pianists, drummers and electric guitarists including Jack McDuff, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Grant Green.

Mbaqanga is a style of South African music with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s, and blends traditional African vocal styles and melodies with European and American popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miriam Makeba</span> South African singer and activist (1932–2008)

Zenzile Miriam Makeba, nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nat Adderley</span> American jazz cornet & trumpet player (1931–2000)

Nathaniel Carlyle Adderley was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the younger brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, whom he supported and played with for many years.

<i>Roots</i> (1977 miniseries) 1977 American TV miniseries

Roots is an American television miniseries based on Alex Haley's 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, set during and after the era of slavery in the United States. The series first aired on ABC in January 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Crawford</span> American jazz and R&B singer

Veronica "Randy" Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist. However, she has appeared on the Hot 100 singles chart twice. The first time was in 1979 as a guest vocalist on The Crusaders' top-40 hit "Street Life". She also dueted with Rick Springfield on the song "Taxi Dancing", which hit number 59 as the B-side of Springfield's hit "Bop Til You Drop". She has had five top-20 hits in the UK, including her 1980 number-two hit, "One Day I'll Fly Away", as well as six UK top-10 albums. Despite her American nationality, she won Best British Female Solo Artist in recognition of her popularity in the UK at the 1982 Brit Awards. In the late 2000s, she received her first two Grammy Award nominations.

Gibson Mthuthuzeli Kente was a South African playwright, composer, director and producer based in Soweto. He was known as the Father of Black Theatre in South Africa, and was one of the first writers to deal with life in the South African black townships. He produced 23 plays and television dramas between 1963 and 1992. He is also responsible for producing some of South Africa's leading musicians. Many prominent artists, including Brenda Fassie, owe their first opportunities on stage to him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Axelrod (musician)</span> American musician, record producer, composer and arranger

David Axelrod was an American composer, arranger, and producer. After starting out as a staff producer for record companies specializing in jazz, Axelrod became known by the mid-1960s in soul and jazz circles for his recording skills. In 1968, Axelrod embarked on a solo career and released several albums during the 1970s that showcased his characteristic sound, which combined heavily microphoned drums and baroque orchestration, and avant garde themes ranging from the environment to heightened mental awareness.

Jonas Mosa Gwangwa was a South African jazz musician, songwriter and producer. He was an important figure in South African jazz for over 40 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon Mobley</span> American musician (born 1961)

Leon Mobley is a percussionist and drummer, founder and artistic and musical director of Da Lion and Djimbe West African Drummers and Dancers, actor, and a member of the Innocent Criminals, Ben Harper's band. He worked with Damian Marley and Nas on a collaborative album titled Distant Relatives (2010). Leon Mobley began as a child actor on PBS Television show Zoom (1973), and has toured the globe as a drummer/percussionist with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals (1993–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Jones (pianist)</span> American jazz pianist (1918–1982)

James Henry Jones was an American jazz pianist and arranger.

Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa was a music concert that took place on 16 April 1990 at Wembley Stadium in London, England, and was broadcast to more than 60 countries. It was held two months after the release of Nelson Mandela from a South African apartheid prison and was regarded by Mandela as an official international reception.

Nathaniel Adderley Jr. is an American pop and rhythm and blues music arranger and pianist who spent much of his music career arranging as music director for Luther Vandross tours and contributed as co-songwriter on most of Vandross's albums. His father Nat Adderley (1931–2000) was a composer and jazz cornet and trumpet player, while his uncle Cannonball Adderley (1928–1975) was a jazz alto saxophonist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorkay House</span>

Dorkay House is situated on Portion 168 of Farm Turnfontein at 5–7 Eloff Street, Johannesburg, South Africa. It was constructed in 1952 and was designed by architect Colman Segal (1923–1988). It takes its name from the original owner, Dora Kotzen.

<i>Africa 68</i> 1968 studio album by Hugh Masekela

Africa '68 is a studio album by South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela released in 1968 via Uni Records label. It was probably recorded in New York circa 1966 and Los Angeles circa late 1967.

<i>Reconstruction</i> (Hugh Masekela album) 1970 studio album by Hugh Masekela

Reconstruction is the twelfth studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela released via Chisa Records label in July 1970. The album was re-released on CD in 1994 via MoJazz label.

Caiphus Semenya is a South African composer and musician. He was born in Alexandra, Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Olga James is an American singer and actress best known for her role in the film Carmen Jones (1954). Her later acting credits include a role in the Broadway musical Mr. Wonderful and a recurring role on The Bill Cosby Show. James was married to jazz musician Julian "Cannonball" Adderley from 1962 until his death in 1975.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1650. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Douglas Payne, "Letta Mbulu", Douglaspayne.com
  3. 1 2 Craig Harris, Artist Biography, AllMusic
  4. Rajgopaul, Jeeva (26 August 2011). "Letta Mbulu". South African History Online. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  5. "Semenya, Caiphus (South Africa)". Music.org.za. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  6. "Letta Mbulu – South African Music". Southafrica.co.za. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  7. "National Orders Recipients 2009". South African History online. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. Patience Bambalele (5 December 2018). "Letta Mbulu scoops another honorary award". sowetanlive.