The Manhattan Brothers was a popular South African singing group in the 1940s and 1950s, during the Apartheid Era.[1] Their sound drew on American ragtime, jive, swing, doo-wop, and several other jazz strains, as well as African choral and Zulu harmonies.[2] Members of the group included Joe Mogotsi,[3] Ronnie Sehume,[1] Rufus Khoza,[1] the late Nathan Mdledle,[1] and Miriam Makeba. Makeba, who went on to international fame, started her career with The Manhattan Brothers and was part of the group for much of the 1950s.[2] The group has one US Billboard pop chart hit, \"Lovely Lies\", which peaked at #45 in March 1956.[3]
Joe Mogotsi died on 19 May 2011 in Johannesburg, following a long illness.[4]
This is a 78 rpm recording: Manhattan Brothers; LABEL: London Records, record # 1610; Date: 1956; Side A: Lovely Lies - Manhattan Brothers with Miriam Makeba (Tom Glazer - M. Davashe), (ABC-13764)
