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SA: Soul Brother Lemmy Mabaso to be buried tomorrow

13 Apr 2018 - 15:42

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Member of South African mbaqanga group Soul Brothers Lemmy ‘Special’ Mabaso will be laid to rest in Soweto, Johannesburg, on Saturday. A memorial service for the legendary saxophonist was held at Downtown Studios in Johannesburg yesterday.

Lemmy Mabaso was the youngest cast member of 'King Kong – The Musical' when it was first staged.

Mabaso died after a short illness last week. He was 69.

The only surviving member of the group, Moses Ngwenya, spoke to Music In Africa about working with Mabaso.

“He was sharp and his tone was perfect. When it came to live shows he had his own fans that loved the way he danced. He was famous in the brass section of Soul Brothers," Ngwenya said.

“It is painful to see most of the people I have worked with passing away. But at the same time this brand is too big for me to just leave it. We have fans all over the world. We can’t stop, so I have to continue the legacy.”

Mabaso developed a love for music after watching the Alexandra Bright Boys band rehearsing in 1956. Spotting his passion, his father bought pennywhistles for Mabaso and his two brothers. The trio began playing together and later formed the Alexandra Junior Bright Boys band. Four other members joined the group, which became the first black music outfit to record an LP at Gallo Studios in 1957.

That same year, Mabaso dropped out of school at the age of 11. He later joined King Kong – The Musical as the youngest cast member at the age of 14. “I was only in standard three at school, so I guess I’ll have to go to school here [London],” Mabaso told the Daily Mail in 1961.

Following the success of the musical, Mabaso joined bands such as Africa Jazz Pioneers and Hollywood Jazz Band. This saw him working with big names such as Spokes Mashiane and Johannes and Reggie Msomi.

In 1979, Mabaso joined the Soul Brothers shortly after the deaths of band members Tuza Mthethwa and Mpompie Sosibo in separate car accidents. The group released its sixth album called Kulukhuni shortly after he joined.

Founded by Zenzele Mchunu, David Masondo and Tuza Mthethwa in 1974, the group has performed in the US and Europe. The Soul Brothers were also invited to play in Oslo, Norway, when former South African presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.