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LINER NOTESTRAVELLING SINGERS DISCOGRAPHY Compiled by Siemon Allen JP 725 – His Master's Voice (HMV) – 78 rpm 0AS 1733 Nozizwe (Almon Memela), c1962 0AS 1735 Ngasala Ngedwa (Almon Memela), c1962 JP 781 – His Master's Voice (HMV) – 78 rpm 0AS 1860 Emakhaya (Almon Memela), c1962 0AS 1883 Ntombi (Almon Memela), c1962 JP 794 – His Master's Voice (HMV) – 78 rpm 0AS xxxx Kumnandi, c1963 0AS xxxx Kwezikude, c1963 JP 818 – His Master's Voice (HMV) – 78 rpm 0AS 2018 Izwilaugibiza (Almon Memela), c1964 0AS 2019 Unyak’omusha (Almon Memela), c1964 JP 963 – His Master's Voice (HMV) – 78 rpm 0AS 2039 Zibhokile (Almon Memela), c1964 0AS 2040 Umsa Wakho (Almon Memela), c1964 |
THE TRAVELLING SINGERS
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TRACK LISTING
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ARTISTS
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NOTESMany thanks to Rob Allingham for graciously allowing me to photograph his collection. Almon Memela's first composition, “Nozizwe” (HMV, JP 725), was recorded in 1960 with the female vocal group The Travelling Singers according to Yvonne Huskisson. However to my best estimates the matrix numbers probably situate the recording date closer to 1962. Though with much of the EMI SA archives being destroyed by fire in 1973, its hard to be certain. This disc (JP 818) could be their fourth and was possibly recorded around 1964. Composer, guitarist and later producer for WEA Records in South Africa, Almon Sandisa Memela was born in Donnybrook, KwaZulu Natal in 1936. His first guitar was homemade, but according to Huskisson, his parents were not supportive of his musical endeavors and so he taught himself to play on borrowed instruments. After briefly working at the United Tobacco Company in Durban, Memela moved to Johannesburg in 1956 to work on the mines. While there he sought to take guitar lessons at the legendary Dorkay House in 1958. (Huskisson) The three-storey education and performance centre was purchased by Union Artists (with proceeds from the 1954 farewell concert for anti-apartheid activist Father Trevor Huddleston) and became a fulcrum for artists to meet and share ideas. As it turned out, Memela, rather than becoming a student was asked to teach the guitar lessons! Memela made his first recordings in 1959 and his early career included band work with the United Artists’ productions of King Kong, In Township Tonight and Mhobelo as well as background music for the Jamie Uys film Dingaka. In 1963 Memela's work began shifting toward instrumentals exclusively—interestingly, the same year that he formed his group, Almon’s Jazz Eight. (Huskisson) View their 1968 album here. The Jazz Eight recorded and performed throughout the 60s and 70s and the line-up included amongst others, future Drive members, Henry Sithole and Stanley Sithole (who joined the group around 1966) and Bunny Luthuli (in 1968). In 1969 the Sithole Brothers formed the Heshoo Beshoo Group before they and Luthuli established the Drive in 1971. In the meantime Memela and his group The A.M Stragglers recorded Soul Bandit (Little Giant, G2, 1969). Memela is remarkably versatile and his style shifts from soul jazz with the Stragglers to bump jive with Abafana Bamaswazi (on Highway Soul and the Swaziland Likwindela Festival, both 1977); from straight mbaqanga on some 45s to the rich afro funk textures featured on Funky Africa. For a limited discography of Almon Melmela visit Flatint. |
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