Live music guru, Bones, and Weekend Band still going strong
Namibia’s leading musical genius, Solly Goodheart, better known as Bones in musical circles, has been in the music industry for over three decades now, and still goes strong in the dog eats dog business of live music.
Bones is the incumbent lead vocalist and leader of the popular Weekend Band, which has been performing live gigs around the country. Weekend Band began life as a six-piece live band doing cover versions. The band was initially born from the family of two of the then most popular musical pop bands in the 1970s, Baronages and Ugly Creatures. It all started in 1980 when a significant chunk of members from both bands resolved to quit the tough and demanding rigours of live music in pursuit of greener pastures in other fields. And as fate would have it, this led to the inevitable birth of Weekend Band.
The trio of Blare Camm (bass) John “Klonkies” May (vocals) and Paul “Dial” Gouws (Baronages) joined forces with the Ugly Creatures pair of Jomo Haoseb (drums) and Theodore Keister (keyboards) to start a new musical band with the ultimate aim to take local music revelers to the next level of a mixture of Fusion, Tamla Motown and Soul, among a variety of musical sounds that were completely new.
Pitch voiced vocalist, Toney Andries, who originally hails from Upington, South Africa, was roped in to assist veteran singer, John May, in the harmony department (voices). The Weekend Band became an instant hit as crowds warmed up to their cool foot-stomping live performances that drew large crowds wherever they performed, notably among the coloured fraternity in places such as Walvis Bay, Windhoek, Rehoboth and Lüderitz.
It was not long before the trio of May, Haoseb and Keister developed itchy feet only to be replaced by Bones Goodheart (lead vocals) Benny Maseko (keyboards) and Raymond “Beatle” Locke (drums), elder brother of popular local radio presenter Mario Locke, arrived to join forces with the Band.
Such was the Band’s popularity that it was invited to perform several live gigs beyond the borders of South West Africa, touring Durban, Cape Town, Upington, Kimberley Saldahna Bay, Mossel Bay and Namakwaland, where they were well received.
Upon their return to their native land after a successful tour across the Orange River, Blare, Beatle and Dial left the Band with Rudolph “Mannetjie” Langenhoven (guitar) Bruce Newman (drums) and Rodney Mitchell (bass) coming in as their replacements. Benny Maart joined the fray shortly afterwards, following the somewhat abbreviated stint of Langenhoven. Charlie September (drums) Andrew Green (keyboards) and Bertie McKay (saxophone) also came on board to fill the void vacated by Locke and Maseko.
Despite the persistent disruptive change in playing personnel, the Band grew in stature and currently ranks among the most sought after entertainers among the local musical folklore. The band is still going strong and very much in demand among golden oldies fanatics. Weekend released its first CD, titled Tula Tula in 2006