Mango Groove has enjoyed over 12 Number 1 hits and received every conceivable SA music and video award, as well as a number of global ones. They have set new precedents for South African artists by being the only SA group to sell out the Sun City Superbowl and Standard Bank Arena six times; the first to re-define live-staging and production standards for South African artists; the first to command a million Rand sponsorship deal and; the first and only group to remain at the top of the South African national sales charts for over a year. They are furthermore aware of music’s unique power to change people’s hearts and minds, and have through the years, raised hundreds of thousands of Rands for issues such as literacy, terminally ill children, and nature conservation.
Internationally, Mango Groove’s unique and magical blend of South African Marabi, Kwela, and pop influences, together with the voice and presence of Claire Johnston and the evocative sound of the penny-whistle, have captivated audiences around the world. Career highlights include a direct satellite link-up to the Freddie Mercury tribute in London (it was estimated that over a billion people watched the show); a performance in front of 200 000 people at the “SOS Racism” concert in Paris; a performance at the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival where the band received three encores.