Merygold :::: Entertainment :::: Don Laka

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.