User:Dr Colbert Mukwevho

Biography of Colbert Mukwevho Aka HARLEY

Colbert Rudzani Mukwevho is the son of Abel and Lucy Mukwevho, and was born in 1965, October 26 at Tlangelani Clinic, and spent his early days in Gumbani a ka Mukhomi, in the former Bantustan homeland of Gazankulu.

The family moved to Tshitomboni in Venda under the mighty apartheid Group Areas Act. He started school at Tshinetise Primary School in 1972. He was born in a musical family, and joined his father and uncles’ band The Thrilling Artists in 1975 as backing vocalist, and later as bassist and lead vocals. He got to secondary level in 1979 at Movhe Secondary School and got his metric certificate at Tshipakoni Secondary School in 1984.

The Thrilling Artists recorded two commercial albums with Gallo, the first one in 1979 called “Mukhada O Ntshuma” and their follow-up “Hani-Hani” in 1982. Colbert, aka Harley, was playing the bass guitar and background vocals in these albums. The young Harley had an opportunity to record at least one composition on each of these albums.

Towards the end of 1983, Colbert, his uncle Freddy Baloyi who was a drummer and his dad the lead guitarist, broke up from their family band The Thrilling Artists to form The Comforters, which was dubbed Vhamvumvusi by Radio Venda, with Colbert as lead vocalist, bassist, composer and arranger. The group’s background vocalists were Colbert’s sisters, namely, Tendani, Tshanzha, Azwinndini, Nkhangweleni and Nita. The group started off by recording with the SABC, in Polokwane, what they called SABC Transcripts, which were not for sale, through the former Radio Venda, with Munaka Ramunenyiwa as assistant sound engineer, and recorded Gaku La Vhuswa Zwalo (meaning “Better a dry crust of bread”). The album was fully in Tshivenda, with raw and very loose reggae rhythms, with the late Christopher, (Leader and lead vocalist of The Thrilling Artists and Abel’s younger brother) on keyboards, and overdubs done by Colbert himself. Abel, Colbert’s father on the lead guitar, Freddy Baloyi, Colbert’s uncle on drums, Colbert on the bass and lead vocals.

In 1984, the group recorded their follow-up called Ni Khou Livha Luwani, (which means “heading for the precipice”), and received much airplay. After that Colbert recorded a number of these Venda reggae tunes as SABC transcripts with Mr. Ramunenyiwa as a recording sound engineer on the SABC Mobile Studio.

In 1984, The Comforters clinched a deal with Hit City Records in downtown Johannesburg and recorded Month end Lover which was released in 1987.Month end Lover.

In 1985, Colbert enrolled at Makhado College of Education at Makhado, Nzhelele in Venda, as a course one student.

His wife, Julia Sididzha, joined the group as backing vocalist later in 1987. Month end Lover was the last project Colbert did with his group, The Comforters. He dropped out of college in 1987 at course three. In 1988, the year Percy (Colbert and Julia’s first-born) was born; he enrolled at the Venda College of Education in his hometown, Thohoyandou, as a course three student. He also dropped out before the end of the year.

In 1989, he was billed at the same music festival with Sello Chicco Twala in Thohoyandou. Chicco invited Colbert to come over to Johannesburg and do business together.

Colbert arrived in Johannesburg in November during the final recording and production of the late Brenda Fassie’s Black President album. Chicco as producer of the album, proposed for a duet of the two artists. They did Colbert’s own composition, Heroes’ Party which also appeared on the Black President album.

In December 1989, Colbert adopted the name Harley, for Harley and the Rasta Family, under the administration of Chicco Productions, and it was the birth of Lion in the Sheepskin in 1990, marketed and distributed by CCP Records. Lion in the Sheepskin was done by Chicco’s backing band. It was Madoda Mathunjwa on drums, Jimmy Mugwandi on the bass guitar, Enos Lebisi on keyboards, the late legendary Jeff Radinne on the grand piano and some additional organ and synthesizer’s overdubs, and the multi-talented Dukes Mlhongo on the guitar and some keyboard overdubs. Additional percussions were done by John Hassan, which furnished the final part of the recording. Julia arrived after the recording but joined the group for live performances.

Colbert met with some rasta bredrens from Bophuthatswana in Yeoville, who wanted to join hands with others and make work. They called themselves “Da Ghetto”. “They are wonderful; dem bredrens were somewhat clean to da bone. Is dem who open me eyes to the world. If ever I never met with dem, I wouldn’t have grown spiritually to this stage, but, Jah. Him mystic y’ know. Me tell ya seh it was the plan of the Almighty for me to meet wit’ the Idrens. Him wan fi strengthen the ting dat is inside of mi. Seen? Him jus’ send these simple people, like angels, to deliver da Revelation that no one could access me wit’. They were the only ones fit to tell mi ‘bout Rastafari, an’ no one else would do. Today, here I am, alive and kicking. Ises to Sellassie I, right? Good.”

Their first live performances were at the Ellis Park Stadium, during the Bigger Birthday Concert. They did a series of live performances with Chicco in and around South Africa.

In 1992, Harley retreated home, and together with members of his new backing group, and his younger brother, Simmy on keyboards, he recorded I Do Nela Rothe, (which means “rain fall for all”) under Colbert Mukwevho. His wife Julia, and his sistersTendani, Nkhangweleni, Tshanzha and Azwinndini were doing backings.

1993 Colbert recorded Hoyo Wanu O Naka (meaning “your maiden is the one that is beautiful”) right at home, in 888 Block F, Thohoyandou, right where The Burning Shak is today, using the same background vocals.

In 1994 he recorded Tshigotshanama (meaning “leg work boy”) in the Downtown Studios in downtown Johannesburg with the late Dukes Mhlongo on lead guitar and keyboards, and Jerry on drums, Simmy and Clement on keyboards, with Mulalo as bassist, and Samuel as percussionist. They worked with a Rasta youth from Pretoria called Jerry as their drummer during the recording and shows promoting the album.

Harley and the Rasta Family signed directly with CCP Records in 1995, and recorded the self-entitled Harley and the Rasta Family album, which was mixed and co-produced by Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare in Kingston, Jamaica. The video of the track, The Lord Is My Rock won the album best reggae album in the 1997 SAMA Music Awards.

Phanda (meaning “ Forward”) was somewhat more roots than the rest, with radical Venda lyrics, and a few love songs, recorded with the famous Prof. Khumalo in 1998, who was lecturing music at the University of Venda, and Colbert as a solo artist, produced by his younger brothers Mulalo, Simmy, Clement and Sammy.

In 1999 while working with CCP Records as Harley and the Rasta Family he recorded Why? Julia and Nkhangweleni did the backings together with some session musicians from Jo’burg. Mulalo Mukwevho who is Colbert’s younger brother, bassist, sound engineer, song writer and arranger played bass in some of the tracks, helped by Jabu Sibumbe of Stimela, and on lead guitar it was Ntokozo Zungu. Ephraim Letsholo from Da Ghetto did piano sessions. It was the last album officially released in December by CCP Records.

Colbert again retreated home and recorded as Colbert Mukwevho Muthu Ndi Nne (meaning “I’m a good man”) in 2000, which was released under Ngoma Dza Tshitomboni Records, a self-registered company.

He made a demo with a computer from home and laid down tracks of Percy’s Here I Am album, which was recorded with Ian Osrin in Northcliff. At the same time he was working on Muthu Ndi Nne, which would be released by Ngoma Dza Tshitomboni Music Publishing.

The same year, CCP asked Harley to help produce fellow reggae musician Senzo’s album, worshipping Your Love.

In 2001 Harley and the Rasta Family recorded with CCP Records Doomsday, with Bruce Williams as producer, but the album was not released by the company.

In 2003 Colbert recorded as a soloist with the aid of TVEP (Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program) Mulovha, Namusi na Matshelo (meaning “yesterday, today and tomorrow”) with the TVEP Song opening the album.

In 2005, Tshigotshanama was remixed and re-recorded, with additional tracks like the Shangaan love song Na Ku Rhandza meaning “I love you”) and a new track, Ni Mu Fhe (A Fure) (meaning “look after her”).

In December 2007, Colbert released a single called Mmbwa I Do La Mmbwa (meaning “dog will eat dog”), with 4 tracks. The tunes on this album are; One Harmony (A Tribute), Every Dog Will Have His Day, Ndi A Zwi Funa (U Ni Funa), and the title track, Mmbwa I Do La Mmbwa which means: “Dog will eat Dog”. Harley is currently working on the album with Mulalo as bassist, laying down keyboards overdubs, guitars and arranging the music. Manu, who is a new member in the group, is also doing keyboards on this project. “Percy has done a wonderful job on the backings, we feel blessed to have him.” Harley says. “The full version of this album will be finished in October the 26th.” This date is Harley’s 43rd birthday. The date of release is yet to be decided by Ngoma Dza Tshitomboni Music Publishing.

Finally, the long-awaited full version of the album “Mmbwa I Do La Mmbwa” hits the markets in December 2008, only 6 days before Christmas. The album opens up with a prayer hymn, “Mbilu Yanga Vuwa”, where the Marley version of “So Long Rastafari Call Ya” is incorporated, and automatically blends nice with the Venda version on background vocals done by Percy, as both of them has a common message. “The enemy surround you, trying to devour you; So long Rastafari a call ya.” The album is marketed and distributed by Thom-Alpha entertainment. The second track follows with the traditional reggae crushing snare, followed by deep rock steady roots reggae riddim section, a relaxed but provoking bass and thunder bass drum cut through by an edged rim shot. The next track is the sad and funky “Holly Mt. Zion.” The militant “I Am A Rastaman” keeps reminding you that Rastafari is a force to be reckoned with. The previously released tracks have a good fresh taste of Pondo’s lead guitar. The title track is a full studio version unlike the dub version on a single. It is a mixture of Peter Tosh kind-a-style, with the original Wailers mood and African orientated melodies. According to Colbert this album “…is a mixture of almost everything, Jazz an’ blues, R n’ B, pop, Rock and traditional sounds put together to make a reggae album. ‘Cos reggae music is every music, y’know. Now, da firs’ riddim was reggae. Seen? The core-foundation. The feeling. Das where every music a just a start, seen? Good.”

The title itself is thought-provoking. “Mmbwa I Do La Mmbwa” means dog will eat dog. It is provoking with songs like Do U Kanda (Wa Fa), “Fire Burn Inna Babylon”, urging people to fight for their rights and comforting them with songs like Try again and love songs like “Thru All Tribulations” and the generally acclaimed hit “Ndi A Zwi Funa (U Ni Funa). This time the name Colbert Mukwevho & Family is the name of the group. Colbert’s 4 younger brothers, Simeron, Mulalo, Samuel and Clement appear on the back of the sleeve. Most of the backings are done by Percy if not by Colbert and Percy or, by Colbert himself alone. Because of its relevancy, this is one of Colbert’s albums that will stay in the market and remain a catalogue seller for many years to come.