ArtistInfo

Babsy Mlangeni

*1943
R&B/Soul, World and Folk
A.k.a. Bernard Babsy Mlangeni’s

Bernard Babsy Mlangeni’s music career in South africa is almost a wonder like that of Stevie Wonder in the States. Babsy was born on 24 February 1943 in orlando east, Soweto. his solo career was boosted by the monster hit, Buoa Nnete (his Master’s Voice, 1972), a soulful ballad I used to sing with my student group, the praise My Lord Quartet at Matladi high School. the crowds just loved it! after that hit he turned into an unstoppable hit machine. his partnership with Sabata Koloi Lebona was as hot as that of Bernie taupin and elton John aka reginald Dwight. Babsy Mlangeni’s music catalogue is a thick endless document. What was interesting about his music was that he could release one album in three languages, for example, Babsy Mlangeni Sings Xhosa, Babsy Mlangeni Sings Sotho and Babsy Mlangeni Sings Zulu, a trend also later followed by Steve tebogo Kekana. his 1980s dance hits included Botsotso, Lonely Man and Umadlemhlabini. he also sang in english as on albums like Lonely Man (BaM, 1981) and Who’s The Boss, a 1988 album with an interesting note on the sleeve: “If you don’t dig african music, you’ve got a hole in your soul.”

Genres

• R&B/Soul
• World
• Folk
• Pop
• Reggae

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