Don Laka is one of South Africa’s top Jazz musicians.
He is currently South Africa’s top Jazz musician producer,engineer,Record label director.
Don Laka creates music with one foot in the past and the other in the future,
creating a synergistic realm of music that speaks to the young and old alike. Resistant to all attempts to
be categorised or pigeonholed as a certain type of artist (e.g. Modern or traditional Jazz, African
traditional, etc), Don has become known as an innovative musician. He combines his creative
multiplicity into a powerful stew of music seasoned with jazz, swing, pop, kwaito, African traditional,
funk and rock n’ roll with a dash of the life experiences of his community. His ability to create a
smorgasbord of music explains why he is a well- respected recording artist that reaches out to all
classes and races of people, at home and abroad.Besides bridging the gap between the young and the
old, Don and his new breed of jazz, called “Kwaijazz”, reflect the new South Africa. Kwaijazz
is a genre of music that is up and coming, accessible and has no boundaries or limitations to one’s
creativity. It is uniquely South African and is anticipated to become popular across the globe. A
mature musician who has successfully married technique and emotion to produce end results of
universal appeal. He is probably one of the few musicians of his age in South Africa who combines the
roles of musician and credible businessman. Peers in the entertainment industry credit him as the
father of one of the first and most successful, independent kwaito labels, Kalawa Records, which was
instrumental in introducing a fresh approach to South Africa’s weathered music industry.
Born in 1958 near Pretoria in Mamelodi. He was the first child in a family of five. In 1969, he
formed his first band and made his first recording in 1972, which featured Ray Phiri on guitar. As one
of South Africa’s most innovative contemporary artists and producers, it’s hard to believe Don ’s
career began back in the politically volatile days of 1976. In that year, Don was playing bass and
singing backing vocals for a group called The Flood, which enjoyed a huge hit with “Let Me Into
Your Life”, selling a staggering 320 000 units. After passing matric in 1978, Don’s prodigious talent
for everything he turned his hand to saw him enroll in the Royal School of Music, ultimately earning
his Grade 8 on the classical guitar and obtaining his licentiate in high school music teaching in 1979.
He would have pursued music further, but apartheid laws prevented him from enrolling at the
Pretoria Conservatoire. Not to be defeated, Don continued to pursue music whilst working as a
clerk in a grocery store. From 1980 to 1981, he joined the Afro fusion group, Sakhile that was formed
by Sipho Gumede and Khaya Mahlangu. The group revolutionised South African music, and set a
trend for groups like Bayete. He played with many South African notables such as Joy, Brenda
Fassie, Sipho Mabuse and Sankomota.
Don recorded his first big hit with a group called “Oneness” before moving on to form his own
British-rock influenced band, “Ymage”. The group performed together for ten (10) years and
recorded no less than 12 Albums. In that decade, Don had an album produced by Tony Visconti
(Bowie, T Rex) who passed on much of his knowledge to Don, allowing him to explore new
territory as a producer and arranger.
His songs and piano playing proved to be popular with other musicians, who asked him to write,
produce or perform on their records. In 1990, Don began writing big orchestral arrangements for
Sibongile Khumalo. She performed his songs at notable venues such as the National Symphony
Orchestra of South Africa. In 1991, he also collaborated with Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Rebecca
Malope. In the late nineties, Don’s solo career was given a substantial boost with the release of
Destiny, a fusion of hip-hop, traditional African rhythms, classical music and pop that saw Don
playing drums, bass, guitar, piano and soprano sax. Two more equally acclaimed albums, Supernova”
and “Pyramid” followed the successful album. His career blossomed further by producing and
performing with artists such as Ray Phiri, Brenda Fassie, Sipho Mabuse, Mango Groove, Sharon Dee
and Johnny Clegg,Bongo Muffin,Mafikizolo amongst others. He is now regarded as one of South Africa’ premier producers.
Laka attests that the highlight of his producing career was producing Hugh Masekela’s albums
“Black to the Future” and “Sixty” where he combined the latest rhythms without neglecting the
music that created Masekela’s endless pool of loyal fans. Indeed, his participation in the album
earned him FNB South African Music Award nomination as Best Producer. Don has often spoken
at music seminars and panels on the issue of quality and standards of South African Music. He has
also toured internationally in London, the United States, Canada and Austria,Russia,Chile,Cuba,Jamaica. His music has
achieved international recognition in England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal
and the United States.
It is my deepest pleasure to be a part of your circle of friends and I am grateful for the interest you display by being involved in my space with me. Thankfully, we have each other and through a higher power will to learn and grow from the experience. Happy Thanksgiving E.
worlds one and only artist with "situs inversus totalis - all viscera are mirror-inverted"
Have a nice day...light and energy for all your future projects,PranaBoy from Cologne
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When the earth is dying there shall arise a new tribe of all colours and all creeds.This tribe shall be called The Warriors of the Rainbow and it will put its faith in action not words...
Hey Don, here’s a link, http://www. sendspace. com/file/q9esfy ,to my latest club / lounge mix CD entitled The W Lounge hosted by MTV’s Sway. I have new songs from Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys among others. Please let me know what you think when you get a chance. –will C.
Thank you So Much For your Great Music, for your Friendship & for have answered to my invitation. « Days We Spend Together » : Beautiful Song !!! Welcome to my « FriendshipSpace ». it’s a Pleasure to have you among my Friends !! Have a Superb Week Keep in touch
Thanks for friendship... I appreciate! The Life of a man is made up of a series of dreams which write our history, as well as our children, who then start to write their own. I decided to continue writing mine as soon as I began to dream in early childhood. One doesn't need to stop the journey along the way. It is necessary to believe that the stars which light our way will never go out, and to continue to follow our dreams which inspire us in the most beautiful moments of our lives. If not, why is my star helping me to write so many fine melodies? I composed a suite for my dream, called " Melody for an Oscar", and I am convinced that one day someone will help me to reach for that Oscar in Hollywood, which I have always imagined in my dreams. No matter what, my dreams have enhanced my musical creativity, and for that I am thankful. Warmest regards,
Hey, If you haven't had a chance to visit artisticpursuit. org lately, we just put out our latest issue of Artistic Pursuit Magazine featuring some of your colleagues on myspace. You can check it out at http://www. artisticpursuit. org/magazine. Remember, we're always looking for new talent, so be sure to post your work on artisticpursuit. org before July 31st to be eligible to be selected in the top three for cash prizes. We're gearing up for our next issue and could really use some good talent to promote.
Hey, we just wanted to stop by and say hello. If you haven't had a chance to check out http://www. artisticpursuit. org yet and win some great cash prizes please do. Artisticpursuit. org provides Professional Reviews of Musicians, Artists/Photographers, Writers, Actors/Directors, and Models, that are placed in our quarterly magazine. We focus primarily on up-and-coming breakout independent artists. You can check out the latest artists we reviewed and interviewed at http://www. artisticpursuit. org/magazine/emagazine. html. In addition, each month we select 3 of the top songs, videos, images, stories, and models for cash prizes. Registration is free, so stop by our website at artisticpursuit. org, tell us about yourself and why you feel you should be promoted! Hope to see you soon.
thank you so much for the friendship add! Your playing is great, your music is awesome! I have taken your song "Days We Spend Together" on to my page. BTW, who is this beautiful singing Lady?? A wonderful voice!
My truly respect and best wishes, Love and Greetings from Germany, Askiwi
