Have you ever heard of the singers, The Hurricanes, from the Vaal Triangle who became international stars?
Read this interesting report by Marius de Vos (IFM 102.2 Radio), a music lover and radio host from the Vaal Triangle who keeps the Vaal’s music history alive with reports like these. If any of The Hurricanes’ members or their family members are still in the Vaal area, please tell us more in the comment box on Facebook!
When this group was discovered by Thomas J Masingi in 1971 in Sharpeville, Vereeniging, he immediately set the wheels in motion for greater things. Early in 1972 he arranged with RPM to take them to the City of Gold to record their first seven single, and two tracks “No One to Love” and “I can feel it” were recorded.
Thomas naturally served as their manager for all their recordings. They immediately struck a note with soul-lovers and the single went gold. Both tracks were aired daily on various radio stations, and one of their next recordings, “Expressions of Love” hit number 1 in what was then Rhodesia. Shortly thereafter they undertook an extended tour of our country and Rhodesia.
They later toured Malawi and even went as far as Japan. Their music was hugely popular in Mozambique and was regularly heard on LM Radio. They were sometimes incorrectly credited as the All Rounders on compilations issued there.
The original members were Stephen Molefe (on organ), Jacob Machell, sometimes spelled as Macheli (bass guitar), Philip Marokoane, sometimes spelled as Maroganya(lead singer), Stanley Thipe (drums) and the great composer of the group, Donald Mbowane (lead guitar). Later Albinus Sobekwa also became a member of the group. In addition to English, they also performed their soul hits in Zulu. Most of their recordings were made under the skilled guidance of sound engineer Meyer Jansen van Rensburg at the RPM studios in Johannesburg. They are indeed forgotten legends of the South African music arena!
Discography:
Seven singles:
* I Can Feel It / No One To Love [RPM – RPM 926 – 1972]
* Don’t Go / Expressions Of Love [RPM – PRM 965 – 1973]
* Misery / Love, Peace & Goodwill [RPM – RPM 966 – 1973]
* Lover’s Paradise / Say It [RPM – RPM 998 – 1973]
* Give Me My Letter Mr. Postman / Richman’s Daughter
[RPM – RPM 7756 – 1975]
* Too Late For Tears / Closer [RPM – RPM 7779 – 1977]
* Izintizi / Thandiwe [Buffalo – BFB 169 – 1978]
Long playing records:
Breaking In [RPM – RPM 7021 – 1974 – later reissued with a new cover]
* Greatest Hits Featuring Mathata [Buffalo – BFL 1003 – 1978]
Own Compositions:
Donald Mbowane:
Debbie / Expressions Of Love / Izintizi / Lover’s Paradise / Mathata / Moratuwa / No One To Love / Richman’s Daughter / Thandiwe.
Albinus Sobekwa:
Hello Brothers And Sisters / I Felt So Good / It’s All Over / Mr. Blue Eyes / Razia / Sea Waves (with Elias Sekete) / She’s Got To Know It Well.
Jacob Machell:
Don’t Go / Give Me My Letter Mr. Postman / Please Take It Is (with Hamilton Nzimande) / Say It.
Philip Marokoane:
Brother / Count Me In / I Wanna See You Smiling (with Khaole & Mogamme) / Lovely Blue Eyes (with Khaole) / Mr. Natural (with Khaole).
Stephen Molefe:
We’ll Be Together.
Tracks Recorded:
Brother / Cecilia / Closer / Count Me In / Debbie / Don’t Go / Expressions Of Love / Give Me My Letter Mr. Postman / Hello Brothers And Sisters / I Can Feel It / I Felt So Good / I Wanna See You Smiling / Inside Of Me / It’s All Over / Izintizi / Lady Luck / Love Peace And Goodwill / Lovely Blue Eyes / Lover’s Paradise / Mathata / Misery / Mister Happiness / Mr. Blue Eyes / Mr. Natural / Moratuwa / No One To Love / The Rain Maker / Razia / Richman’s Daughter / Say It / Sea Waves / She’s Got To Know It Well / Thandiwe / Too Late For Tears / Twilight / We’ll Be Together.
Translation: Carol Pittendrigh
Uploaded by Retha Fitchat – 31 March 2020
