WINDHOEK– Surely for adherents of the old school music dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the show early this year in March when one of the few remaining old school music artists celebrated his 40 years in music at the Khomasdal Community Hall, must still be fresh in their memories.
If that is the case it is this time again when this time around Sledge Kanime promises once again to take his fellow old school music lovers down memory lane at the Garlic and Flowers Restaurant next Friday.
This show will be based on love songs from yesteryears when he will be performing songs from his previous shows plus and other cover versions from artists such as Barry White, Lou Rawls, The Whispers and The Miracles.
If sledges’s previous shows are anything to go by, surely this upcoming show promises a hit. One is particularly reminded of his 40th anniversary in music show in March this year when he once again proved himself a live musical guru. Starting slightly late than the scheduled time of eight O’clock, indeed when they eventually ascended to the stage, Simeon Kanime, aka Sledge and band, Baby Doëseb on guitar, Lebo on drums Mannecky Khoe-aob on bass Gerson Doesëb on keyboard indeed made the wait more than worth the while.
It may not have been a full house as expected but it was obvious that many an ageing souls and limbs in the capital city were craving for some entertainment to rejuvenate if not heal their burdening souls, and to loosen their rusted limbs. And nobody did this better tan Sledge and company, and the old cows of Namibian live mysic, Ugly Creatures and Baronages. The show was reminiscent of social lives in the then townships, as the black residential areas in modern day Katutura, and many others towns and cities were then known.
Opening the act on the night, was none other than then the local celebrity musician of the particular night himself, Sledge, whose 40th anniversary in the music industry was being celebrated. And talking of nostalgia, the curtain could not have come down properly on the night then with the introductory song, an own production and all time favourite by a group then known as Children from Pluto (CFP), titled the CFP song. This song set the tone and the mood for the rest of the night. More than five hours of non-stop music making, dancing, socialising and merry-making followed. Sledge, and 13-year-old daughter, Latisha, who obviously is greatly taking after the father, ensured for a sensation with a duet of the song, Enchantment, penned by Molly Barron , co-founder of the Cape Town-based band, The Rockets, and released in 1981.
Black Magic Woman is one of an all time favourites hit which Sledge featured on the night. Written by Peter Green is first appeared as a Fleetwood Mac single in various countries in 1968, subsequently appearing on the 1969 Fleetwood Mac compilation albums English Rose (US) and The Pious Bird of Good Omen (UK). In 1970, it became a classic hit by Santana, as sung by Gregg Rolie, reaching No. 4 in the U.S. and Canadian charts, after appearing on their Abraxas album, becoming more closely associated with Santana than Fleetwood Mac. In 2005 the song was covered by ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Snowy White on his album The Way It Is. In 1996, the song was also covered by Gary Hoey on his album Bug Alley.
Although not as popular as Santana’s arrangement two years later, Black Magic Woman nevertheless became a fairly popular blues-rock hit peaking at No. 37 in the UK Singles Chart. It was featured in Fleetwood Mac live set-lists even after Green had left the band, when it was often sung by Danny Kirwan, and during concerts in the early 1970s it would form the basis for long mid-concert jams. The song would often be preceded by a band member reminding the audience that it was a Fleetwood Mac song before it became such a big hit for Santana.
Of course who can forget that song, Daddy’s Home? While it has been attributed to the Delfonics, this has been disputed being attributed rather to Shep & the Limeliters. Jermine Jacksn of the Jackson 5 also recorded the song. On the home front in those years when one hears the song it brings to mind The Rockets. Shake Your Booty there’s no way one can go wrong about it and calling up none other than KC and the Sunshine Band back in the 1980s. On the home front it conjures up memories of the Baronages, and their main vocalist then, Lesley Kozonguizi. Then there was Baby I love Your Way by Peter Frampton and who would also not remember that late 1970s original disco hit, Gimme Some by Jimmy “Bo” Horne.
But there was no way that Sledge could on the night deliver each of the 17 songs on his menu, not with the Ugly Creatures and Baronages waiting in the wings, and so by popular demand. And once they entreated the stage, there was no stopping them, as the nostalgic journey on which they kidnapped the volunteering and approving crowd proved unstoppable and irreversible. Simply the night became a nostalgic musical one-way cul-de-sac until the wee hours of the Sunday morning. Obviously, this is what a good number of Windhoekers, and beyond, had been craving for, and been missing. After the show many revelers were asking and wondering how long before Sledge would return to the stage again this year. Well here he comes come Friday, September 20.
Sledge started his musical journey at the tender age of 12 years with the band then called the Do-nuts doing cover versions of soul hits like When a man loves a woman and My Special Prayer made popular by none other than Percy Sledge, hence his own stage name, Sledge. Sledge later joined the Children from Pluto (CFP) band and onwards the Deadwoods in Walvis Bay doing songs such as Good time sally, Maybe the magic and We are an American band by the Grand Fun Railroad.
Sledge later teamed up with the legendary Baby Tjirimuje, founder of the Beebop Brothers, in a band called the Gypsies performing songs like Free me by Uriah Heep, Baby come back by The Players and many more.
Sledge later joined The Masters and the Ugly Creatures with his old time friends, Elvis Afrikaner, now late, and Baby Doëseb, the master on guitar as well as the late Jefta on base guitar. Tickets go for N$50 at the door on the night with the doors opening at eight O’clock (20h00).