Jockey Shabalala
Encyclopedia
Jockey Shabalala was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
, a South Africa
n choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph
.
Jockey was born on a farm in the South African town of Ladysmith
(eMnambithi), and grew up with six other siblings. His brother Joseph, being the eldest, had to take care of the family and their mother when their father, Jonathan Mluwane Shabalala, died in 1945. After moving to Durban
c. 1957 to find work, Joseph founded the first incarnation of Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1960 with his brothers Headman
and Enoch and various other relatives. Jockey decided to continue working; he painted cars. In 1974, after the success of Mambazo's first album, Joseph managed to persuade Jockey to join the group, where he became a full-time member by the late 1970s.
In October 2004, Jockey decided to retire from international touring to spend more time with his family, though still continued recording and performing with the group in South Africa. It was in mid-2005 when Jockey became ill with numerous health problems when he fully retired from the group.
He died of heart disease in February 2006. He is survived by his wife and four adult children.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
, a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph
Joseph Shabalala
Joseph Shabalala , born Bhekizizwe Joseph Siphatimandla Mxoveni Mshengu Bigboy Shabalala, is the founder and musical director of the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.-Early life and career:...
.
Jockey was born on a farm in the South African town of Ladysmith
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is north-west of Durban and south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production...
(eMnambithi), and grew up with six other siblings. His brother Joseph, being the eldest, had to take care of the family and their mother when their father, Jonathan Mluwane Shabalala, died in 1945. After moving to Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
c. 1957 to find work, Joseph founded the first incarnation of Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1960 with his brothers Headman
Headman Shabalala
Headman Msongelwa Shabalala was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph....
and Enoch and various other relatives. Jockey decided to continue working; he painted cars. In 1974, after the success of Mambazo's first album, Joseph managed to persuade Jockey to join the group, where he became a full-time member by the late 1970s.
In October 2004, Jockey decided to retire from international touring to spend more time with his family, though still continued recording and performing with the group in South Africa. It was in mid-2005 when Jockey became ill with numerous health problems when he fully retired from the group.
He died of heart disease in February 2006. He is survived by his wife and four adult children.