Famous Jazz Musicians 1940s - 2017

The Manhattan Brothers - Vuka Vuka

The Manhattan Brothers was a popular South African singing group in the 1940s and 1950s, from Ladysmith, a town in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.  Members of the group included Joe Mogotsi, Ronnie Sehume, Rufus Khoza, the late Nathan Mdledle, and Miriam Makeba a South African singer, actor, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and civil rights activist, and Joe Mogotsi.

Led by well respected Afro jazz legend Nkosinathi (Nathi) Hadebe, the group consisted at various times, of four to six vibrant and awesomely talented members, including Vusmuzi (Vusi) Madondo, Lindokuhle (Ndo) Makathini, Fanizile (Jeffrey), Nzuza, Bongani Mabaso, Lungisani Mhlongo, Thabo Motsamai--and following the passing of two founding members, reformed in 2012 to "take a stand" in memory of their mentors and beloved former members bringing in new members to complement the existing lineup.

With the approval of Miriam Makeba and Joe Mogotsi, they for…

Abdullah Ibrahim

Abdullah Ibrahim played piano in the Jazz Epistles band, which was the first ever band of all black South African musicians. He was born in Cape Town on 9 October 1934, and was baptized Adolph Johannes Music grew with him as did puberty Abdullah began piano lessons at the ripe age of six.

He attended Trafalgar High School in Cape Town's District Six. He was already performing before crowds because, at the age of 15, he made his professional debut. Like many, he was considered "colored" because he was of a mixed-race heritage according to the South African government
Ibrahim moved to Europe in 1962. In February 1963, with his wife-to-be, Sathima Bea Benjamin. They married in 1965.

While in Europe, Duke Ellington helped set up a recording session with Reprise Records: Duke Ellington Presents The Dollar Brand Trio. A second recording of the trio (also with Ellington and Billy Strayhorn on piano) performing with Sathima as vocalist was recorded, but remaine…