The Travelling Singers - Zibhokile / Umsa Wakho
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LINER NOTES

 

TRAVELLING 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
ZIBHOKILE / UMSA WAKHO


recorded 1964c
issued 1964c
His Master's Voice
EMI
made in South Africa
published by Tudor Rose
JP 963
matrix 0AS 2039
matrix 0AS 2040
78 rpm
first issue
source: Flatinternational Archive

TRACK LISTING

 

1.1Zibhokile

(Almon Memela)

2.2Umsa Wakho

(Almon Memela)

ARTISTS

 

THE TRAVELLING SINGERS
ALMON MEMELA - guitar, leader

NOTES

 

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 963) could be their fifth 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.