On Wednesday, 9 December 2015, South Africa lost a legend and the Kgasoane family lost a mentor and father. Mr. Lehlara Banza Samson Kgasoane (65), the leading trumpeter for the legendary group, Mango Groove, has passed on.
Son to saxophone player and musician, Henry Mojuda Kgasoane, Banza founded the platinum-selling Alexandra Brass Band with his father and they played together in Big Henny’s Band, in the 1950s. Banza shared stages and played with musicians such as Zakes Nkosi, The Jazz Monitors Quintet, Ken Modise, Ntemi Piliso, as well as Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse. Years of experience elevated him to newer levels as he saw himself playing with the likes of Jack “Big Voice” Lerole.
Near the end of the Apartheid era, Mango Groove and Juluka were the only major South African music groups with both black and white band-members. The band has had at least 12 number-one hits in South Africa, and are the only band in South Africa’s history with an album that remained in a sales chart for more than a year.
His career catapulted when he joined Mango Groove, an 11-piece South African Afropop band that released 5 successful studio albums. As Henry passed the musical torch to Banza, Banza also carried on the musical torch to his son, Moshe Kgasoane, also known as Mo-T.
27 year old Moshe has been carrying the torch of his family’s musical background with grace, when he joined the now triple platinum selling international house band, Mi Casa. Moshe started in the brass band founded by his father and grandfather as a teenager and now he’s touring the world with his band, Mi Casa, the same way his father did decades ago with Mango Groove.
Members of the public are welcome to attend his memorial service on the 15th of December 2015, which will take place in their hometown, Alexandra township, at Alexandra Technical College.
Lehlara Banza Samson Kgasoane will be laid to rest on the 19th of December 2015 at 7AM.The service will take place at Alexandra Technical College.
The nation will remember Banza Kgasoane for his smooth sounds and humility. May his soul rest in peace.
For any information and queries, please contact
Gugu Ndabezitha
Public Relations Consultant
pr@34music.co