Exploring the deeper reaches of one of Africa’s most important music catalogues - Mark Bond
Gallo Records turns one hundred this year, and the catalogue’s cultural footprint extends well beyond the markets in which the recordings were originally made. Ladysmith Black Mambazo band leader Joseph Shabalala’s writing travelled globally through songs on Paul Simon’s Graceland. Ladysmith Black Mambazo recordings themselves appeared in films including Moonwalker and Coming to America. Shabalala compositions were later recorded by Dolly Parton, Zap Mama and Natalie Merchant, while the group also featured on recordings with The Corrs, Josh Groban and Lighthouse Family. Solomon Linda’s Mbube was the source for Wimoweh and subsequently the ubiquitous The Lion Sleeps Tonight.