Mango Groove (ZA)
From Johannesburg
Popularity
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About
Also known as: Mangogrove, マンゴ・グルーヴ
Few South African bands have blurred the lines between pop and township music quite like Mango Groove. Formed in Johannesburg in 1984, the 11 piece group built their sound around marabi and kwela, with the penny whistle sitting at the heart of it all. Their origin story is a good one too: the name came from a dinner table pun on the phrase "Man, go groove!" and the lineup took shape after founding members from a university punk band crossed paths with kwela legend "Big Voice" Jack Lerole at the Gallo Records building. Lead singer Claire Johnston's soprano has been the band's signature voice through six studio albums, backed by a full brass section, guitars, drums, keyboards, and those unmistakable penny whistle lines. Their first chart hit "Move Up" went to number one in 1987, and they performed "Special Star" live via satellite from Johannesburg at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Their most recent album Faces to the Sun came out in 2016 after more than four years in the making.
