Spokes Mashiyane - Sono Sam'
South African artist, born Johannes "Spokes" Mashiyane in Vlakfontein, near Pretoria, on 20 January 1933, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest penny whistle artists of all time. He grew up tending his father’s cattle, and tried his hand at the primitive African reed flute to while away the long hours. In later years he moved to Johannesburg to work as a domestic servant, which allowed him to buy a genuine penny whistle. By placing the mouthpiece vertically against the inside of the left cheek, and by introducing an entirely new fingering system, Spokes was able to produce a roundness of tone previously unknown with this limited musical instrument.
While playing at an impromptu street corner music session, he was discovered by talent scout Strike Vilakazi, and was rushed to the studio for a test recording. His first recordings, “Ace Blues”, “Kwela Spokes”, ”Skokiaan” and “Meva”, were all released on 78 rpm records in 1954. By the 1960’s he had gained international notice, playing with Bud Shank, among others, during their visit to South Africa, and in July 1965 he played at the Newport Folk Festival.
He sadly passed away at the Baragwanath Hospital, aged 39, of cirrhosis of the liver on 9 February 1972.
In 1989 South African band Mango Groove released “Special Star” as a tribute to Spokes Mashiyane.
This song is off the album “King Kwela”, released in 1959 (although the year of release is not indicated on the record label, details on the rear cover indicate that Spokes was 26 years of age at the time). It is the first full length album released by Spokes, and includes 3 of the 4 songs that were previously released on 78 rpm. All songs on the album (except for “Sono Sam’”) were written by Spokes Mashiyane.
The album was re-released, with a different cover, in 1990.