South African Motown..?

[Abner]

Hi... newbie here!

Over the last few years I've noticed references on the internet to a "South African Motown". And by that, I don't mean a branch of Motown based in the country or anything like that - I mean, a 1960s South African black label specialising in it's own music and sounds, but marketing/"styling" their artists in the same way as our Motown.

Some relevant links I found while googling the topic:

http://electricjive.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/spotlight-on-rupert-bopape.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo_Record_Company
http://matsuli.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/jive-motella-nick-lotay-digs-deep.html
http://electricjive.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/makhona-tsohle-heart-of-mbaqanga-1967.html

The music is very un-Motown and quite distinctly African [[but with electric guitars and bass the like). The download link is dead on that Matsuli page but more of the same can be found on the Electric blog.

Sorry if you think this post is all nonsense... but I just thought it was interesting! And quite intriguing how producers as far away as South Africa looked to Motown for inspiration. :)

[tamla617]

hi abner welcome to sdf.
i've no idea about a separate south african tamla motown.there were some records lps definatly and singles i'm sure issued by emi uk for south africa.they had the overseas distribution agreement from motown records.as well as canada,australia europe.and i think the rest of the world.

[splanky]

Welcome, Abner....There is nothing nonsensical at all about your question. It's not rare at all for South African musicians
or North, East and West Africans to be inspiried by Motown, Stax, Philly soul or James Brown for that matter. It's not even necessary for any of the artists in those links, and I btw, am quite familiar with most of them, to have a Motown
connection. There's a lot of great music there but the fact is, 90 percent of this country's ears never have and never will
hear them....

[Abner]

Thanks for your replies!
Splanky - yep, it's interesting to see black South Africans feel an affinity with black Americans and their music. Of course the South African music is very "individual", but - like everyone - I'm sure they must have covered US African-American soul songs and adapted them.
I think I also saw flyers for a 'South African tribute to James Brown' concert a while ago!

[grapevine]

...there's also this Letta album ...released on South African Tamla Motown ...and nowhere else...?

http://electricjive.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/lost-letta-mbulu-album-ill-never-be.html

:)

[jsmith]

Quite a few US soul artists toured Sth Africa back in the day, a number of them working with local musicians in the studios there [[C L Blast, Percy Sledge instantly spring to mind but there were others).
Some US [[& UK) acts pulled out of proposed shows though, due to them being staged in segregated venues.
PLus, Sth African born Hugh Masakela cut tracks [[in the US) that were released by Motown [[Rare Earth ?).

[tamla617]

Quite a few US soul artists toured Sth Africa back in the day, a number of them working with local musicians in the studios there [[C L Blast, Percy Sledge instantly spring to mind but there were others).
Some US [[& UK) acts pulled out of proposed shows though, due to them being staged in segregated venues.
PLus, Sth African born Hugh Masakela cut tracks [[in the US) that were released by Motown [[Rare Earth ?).


it was chisa

CS-803 - Reconstruction - Hugh Masekela [7/70] You Keep Me Hangin' On/I Will/I Can't Dance/Father Time [[Maybe Then You'll Know)/Make Me A Potion//Sala Le Mane/Leave Us Alone/Woza/Both Sides Now/Traces

and

CS-808 - Hugh Masekela and the Union of South Africa - Hugh Masekela & Union of South Africa [5/71] Goin' Back To New Orleans/Ade/To Get Ourselves Together/Johannesburg Hi-Lite Jive/Mamani//Shebeen/Dyambo/Caution!/Hush [[Somebody's Calling My Name)