David Thekwane is a South African saxophone player who was equally working as a producer. He became most succesful with his productions for The Movers, mainly destined for the African Soul market and based on the music of American idols like Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett and Booker T & The MG’s.
Flatint has an excellent discography and bio of The Movers so I refer to that page for more info.
David Thekwane also produced numerous other South African artists working in the same field with less success but nevertheless, good music came out of these collaborations . The most famous names include the Flaming Souls, The Mabone Boys and the Soul Throbs to name a few. Not exactly household names but these days their work has been rediscovered by UK based labels like Strut. Do check out the wonderful compilation Next Stop… Soweto Vol. 2: Soul, Funk & Organ Grooves From The Townships 1969-1976 ( STRUT057LP) 2010 Strut.
Today’s post focuses on two productions by David Thekwane with the Boyoyo Boys. Both singles were released respectively on Plastik Records in 1976 and 1977 and feature accordeon jive and sax jive. David Thekwane plays the saxophone himself on this rare SA released 45 single. Enjoy!
Boyoyo Boys -Lekker Krap (1977)
David Thekwane & The Boyoyo Boys -Malombo Jive (1976)
Soul Safari 
My name is Heidi Berg. Every Week for years I went to Simon’s house, or his office in Brill Bldg. — He was divorcing Princess Leia, and wanted to “help me” / to “Produce me” / He stole my words in conversation, he stole my Norwegian Heritage I wanted to express using the unpopular Accordion — Eventually I found our rolls reversing. Besides the fact he lied continuously about WHY he could not return my Boyoyo BOys & Ladysmith cassettes, but I began to mentor him with a Gold Record, a Platinum record and the words “Thanks” on a short list — which he has eliminated on his 25th anniv. of his last good stolen idea. See — as a composer, I got tired of many years, of songs with impossible chords just for the sake of being impossible. I told Paul, “Do something like “I AM A ROCK” (a 1-4-5- ditty basically) and he said “I HAAATE that song!!!”. He was lost in a world of Jazz Chords that just entirely lacked JOY. I wanted to make my record out of JOY. My story is long. Detailed, and emotionally destructive in the end — I had to return to writing playing singing TV Radio Commercials (national) as the powerful have power. I believe i was black listed. I still have 3 cassettes. My favorite one, was the one he used on Graceland called “Gumboots”. That track existed on an album by these people, and he just bought the rights — sang ‘i was walkin’ down the street one day’ — THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for finding these. I hid my 3 cassettes too well, but they are in the house. And they are the original cassettes without the devils voice on it. God Bless. And thank you again! ____ 9/11/2012 Heidi Berg
thanks for sharing your memories on this rather extraordinary story!
Hey Heidi, wow we remember your story from reading an article in the Rolling Stone magazine many years ago! Pity about the fallout with Paul, but you played a big role in exposing him (& therefore later the rest of the world) to SA music. Chin up, thank you! (dj PF & generalGonzalez)
David Thekwane & The Boyoyo Boys -Township Jive 1977 :
Hello Heidi – I am a South African (born 3 years before the release of Graceland in August 1986). We grew up on the sounds contained in Graceland and we were and still proud of our talented musicians who played with Simon on this album.
However, I never knew, until recently, that your introduction to him of the Boyoyo Boys’ Gumboots ultimately wrought one of the best albums of the 20th century. In fact, I didnt know about you until I read a Rollingstone article about Graceland.
I think you have a very interesting story to tell. Have you ever considered writing in detail the events which led to Simon’s discovery of “Gumboots?” I am challenging you to help us understand more.
Monako Dibetle – Krugersdorp, South Africa
hello Monako, thanks for your nice message. The story of Paul Simon discovering ‘gumboots’ is quite well known I believe and simple…he got a compilation on cassette with the music
of ‘gumboot dances’ and ‘accordeon jive’ which triggered Paul Simon into travelling to South Africa to meet the artists that made this music. The rest is history….
i like this music on dvd please …..
don’t we all?
ILIKE THE MUSIC HELP HOW TO GET IT
the best is to download
Are vinyl records still available
Looking for South African music of the late 60s to late 70s especially Accordion jive