Donald Mahwetša Laka (born 15 December 1958 in

Mamelodi Mamelodi is a township northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. A part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, it was set up by the then apartheid government in 1953. Etymology Pretoria Pretoria ( ; ) is the Capital of South Africa, administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to the country. Pretoria strad ...

), professionally known as Don Laka, is a South African jazz musician,

songwriter A songwriter is a person who creates musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music genre and film scoring. ...

and music producer, as well as the founder of "kwaai-jazz". Laka finished studying at the

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is one of the oldest music schools in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the firs ...

with Grade 8 in classical guitar, but restrictions under the

Apartheid Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...

regime kept him from enrolling at the Pretoria Conservatoire. In 1969 he went on to form his first band, and recorded for the first time in 1972 with featured

Ray Phiri Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri (23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017) was a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga to Thabethe Phiri, a Malawian immigrant worker, and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He ...

on guitar. After finishing 12th grade in 1978, he undertook formal training, eventually obtaining his license to teach music in high school in 1979. From 1980 to 1981 he joined the afro-fusion group Sakhile, formed by Sipho Gumede and Khaya Mahlangu, which revolutionised South African music and set the scene for groups like Bayete. Don recorded his first major release with a group called "Oneness" before moving on to form his own band with Sello Twala, called Ymage. In their ten years together, they recorded approximately 12 LPs which led to their 1986 meeting with producer

Tony Visconti Anthony Edward Visconti (born April 24, 1944) is an American record producer, musician and singer. Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers. His first hit single was T. Rex's " Ride a White Swan" in 1970, the first of man ...

, who produced ten of

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...

's albums, as well as works by

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...

, T Rex and The

Moody Blues Moody may refer to: Places * Moody, Alabama, U.S. * Moody, Missouri, U.S. * Moody, Texas, U.S. * Moody County, South Dakota, U.S. * Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada * Hundred of Moody, a cadastral division in South Australia ** Moody, Sout ...

. During that time, the likes of

Brenda Fassie Brenda Nokuzola Fassie (3 November 1964 – 9 May 2004) was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she is also known as the "Queen of African Pop" or the "Madonna of The Townships." Fas ...

would become interested in Don's style, who would then ask if he could write, produce or perform on their records. Don also co-launched the record label that was to become

Kalawa Jazmee Kalawa Jazmee Records is an independent record label based in South Africa. The label is known for its contribution to the development of the Kwaito genre of music in South Africa. Artists * Oskido * Professor * Mandla Mofokeng * Trompies * D ...

, initially selling records from the boot of their cars before evolving to form a bigger structure. Kalawa Jazmee was one of the first successful black-owned record companies in South Afric

He also appeared on most of Sankomota's albums as a string and keyboard arranger, and in 1990 started writing larger orchestral arrangements for

Sibongile Khumalo Sibongile Khumalo (24 September 1957 – 28 January 2021) was a South African singer and songwriter. She sang Classical music, classical, jazz, opera and traditional Music of South Africa, South African music. She was noted for singing at the in ...

, who performed with the

National Symphony Orchestra (South Africa) The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1930 by cellist Hans Kindler, its principal performing venue is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The NSO regularly ...

. In 1991 he went on to collaborate with South African vocal legends

Yvonne Chaka Chaka Yvonne Chaka Chaka OIS (born Yvonne Machaka on 18 March 1965) is a South African singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher. Dubbed the "Princess of Africa" (on a 1990 tour), Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South Afric ...

and

Rebecca Malope } Batsogile Lovederia "Rebecca" Malope (born June 30, 1968) is a South African gospel singer. She is known as "The Queen of Gospel". Her music career spans more than three decades. She has sold at least 10 million albums worldwide, making her o ...

. In 2013, Don Laka received a Grammy nomination for Best World Music album for producing

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and f ...

's ''Jabulani'' in 2013.

Kwaai-Jazz

Laka describes kwaai-jazz as a fusion of South African music styles including

kwaito Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, between the late 1980s and 1990s. It is a sound that features the use of African sounds and samples. Kwaito songs occur at a slower tempo range than other styles of h ...

kwela Kwela is a genre of street music originating from southern Africa. It is distinguished by its prominent use of the pennywhistle, jazz-inspired elements, and a distinctive skiffle-like rhythm. It evolved from the marabi sound. Kwela brought South ...

and marabi with jazz to create a more a soulful sound.

"In the late 80s and early 90s jazz music was not widely played on radio – or anywhere else – in South Africa for nearly 20 years. I needed a way to bring jazz to young people... Since jazz consists of different categories of music, like blues and Japanese jazz, among others, I wanted something that South Africans could identify with". �
Don Laka, IOL
/blockquote>

Discography

Albums
* 2019: ''I Wanna Be Myself'' * 2019: ''Passion'' * 2019: ''Re-Birth of Kwaai Jazz'' * 2018: ''Poison'' * 2017: ''Reflections'' * 2016: ''Boogie Breakdown: South African Synth Disco'' * 2015: ''Afro Chopin'' * 2014: ''Portraits'' * 2008: ''Paradise'' * 2007: ''Invitation'' * 2002: ''Armageddon'' * 2001: ''Pyramid'' * 1998: ''Super Nova'' * 1997: ''Destiny'' * 1991: ''Lost Time'' * 1987: ''Smile'' * 1984: ''I Wanna Be Myself'' * 1982: ''Going Crazy''Donald Laka – ''Going Crazy'' @Discogs.com
Retrieved 6 February 2018.

Singles & EPs
* 1986: ''Stages of Love'' (EP)

Notes

External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Laka, Don 1958 births South African jazz musicians Living people South African songwriters