A History of South African Jazz & Popular Music
Enjoy each full 1 hour radio show of music and commentary on Real Audio
Hi, I'm Dennis Shore.
The vast continent of Africa with more than 50 nations each with its own history and cultural mix has developed a rich musical tradition, and it is well documented that African music was a fundamental ingredient in the recipe which created 20th century popular music.
South Africa has always been the most industrialized and developed nation south of the Sahara. Their music reflects world influences and is sophisticated. It is important to understand that all forms of black South African music are inextricably intertwined with the long and bitter political struggle for freedom. Their music was employed as a powerful medium for protest, it served as a distraction from the difficult and harsh conditions od day to day living, and articulated their aspirations for a brighter future, which thankfully is now at hand. The jazz, popular, and vocal music which evolved over the years and which has burst forth since 1994, reflects a uniquely attractive hybrid of traditional African rhythm and melodic structure interwoven with Afro-American and British music influences.
In this program, I will be playing selected examples of their music with wonderful names such as Marabi, Mbube, Mbaquanga, and Kwela; examples of South African Big Band, Jive, Jazz, Rock, Fusion, Reggae and others, from the earliest of recordings right up until today. In short, a music-fest as joyful and sensuous as the country itself. My theme song is "Mbombela"... a song composed in the 1950's performed by The African Jazz Pioneers. The program is dedicated to the early musicians who paved the way of today's multi-million dollar entertainment industry but who never received recognition for their contributions.
Enjoy each full 1 hour radio show of music and commentary.
Click Here to listen to the RealAudio sample. If you do not have RealAudio, you may download your free copy here.
If you are interested in broadcasting a full version of this program...
Target Audience:
The program content
will be of interest to an extremely wide range of listeners.
Much of the material selected has never been broadcast outside
of South Africa
A wider audience
in foreign countries may be found who would consider the program
to be a quasi documentary on the history of South African popular
music.The program has been designed for the commentary to be
easily translated into different languages.
Structure:
The content has been structured as a series of three hourly programs. The series can be structured differently if so required (for example, 6 programs each a half hour in duration). New material is being added regularly.
Production, Copyright, and Royalties:
A full English version of the program is available on CD and cassette tape. Alternatively you may be interested in producing the program in your studios. A copyright fee will be negotiated for broadcasting the commentary. Payment of royalties on music selected, if applicable, are the responsibility of your company.
To contact Shore Broadcasting, Click Here
Young Musicians
Guild
In co-operation with The South African American Organisation ("S.A.A.O."), Dennis Shore has formed the Young Musicians Guild ("Y.M.G."), an initiative which has as it's mission, the collection of funds to sponsor musical talent amoung South African youth who are economically disadvantaged.
S.A.A.O., a registered non-profit organisation in New York, and is acting as a custodian of funding collected on behalf of YMG, and will supervise the disbursement of grants to worthy recipients.
Three cassettes of A History of South African Jazz and Popular Music are available for shipping to donors at a price of $10US each. Proceeds, after costs, will be accumulated for the benifit of the YMG. If you would like to participate in this initiative, please use this email link. Your donation will be acknowledged to the recipients.
Thank you for your interest in "A History of South African Jazz and Popular Music". The program was written and the music was selected by Dennis Shore.