Thuthukani Cele
Thuthukani Chapman Cele was born on the 15th of April in the year 1964 and raised in Bhobhoyi location in Port Shepstone KZN. Thuthu, a fifth born child in a family of ten boys, grew up listening to his parents playing their musical instruments at home. His father loved playing guitar and sing with his brothers and cousins so they inspired the young Thuthu and for him it was music that became his life. He started singing in a church choir and musical stage play. Then he decided to leave KZN, his home town, for JHB.
Thuthukani Cele was the longest member of Lucky Dube Band. He joined in 1983 Thuthu aka “tuty fruity” as a keyboard player. He also freelance in the studio for a lot of musician like Brenda Fassie, Busi Mhlongo, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Thandiswa Mazwai, Mariano from Italy, Luois Jean from Senegal also did some work for Maxi Priest as well . He later became the front man for the band the “Slaves” which later on was known as “Free at Last” band after the country voted their first president Nelson Mandela in 1994. Thuthu is a best producer, keyboard player a great song writer and vocalist.
Thuthu as he is known to his fan is also a well known producer and multi instrumental player. He has produced and did a lot of sessions for top selling artist like Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Madlanduna, Shwi Nomtekhala and many other artists.
While with Lucky Dube he toured all four corners of the world and shared stage with lots of famous and big international artists like Peter Gabriel, John Halt, Aswad, Beres Harmond, Shabba Ranks, Ganert Silk, and many more. After the passing of Lucky Dube in 2007, Thuthu stepped on the leading mic as One People Band now. They have toured lots of countries worldwide like South America,
Surinam, Papua New Guine, in the Pacific Islands, Nomea, Vanuatu, Solomon Island, and a lot more. One People Band backed Eddie Grant when he came to South Africa looking for a band to back him when he was going to perform at Nelson Mandela’s birthday, a concert which happened in England, and toured New Zealand, Australia on a Ragga muffin tour and South Africa Johannesburg, Durban, PE and Cape Town.
Thuthu at the present moment is working on a solo project collaborating with a lot of upcoming and well known musicians, like Phumi Maduna ,Philile aka ”Afrika” Cele ,aka”General Plago”Sithole ,Skipper Shabalala,on guiter and many more from all other parts of Africa like East Africa, Southern Africa. And now as he releases this beautiful work ot art that some call it sweet soul healilng reggae music and they it speaks to the heart and soul of the young and old it’s *Eyes For Babe*This album is a combination of
Afro ,rocksteady,dancehall with a mix languages Zulu,Tswana,English,and Aboriginal oh yes it’s a combination languages by Thuthukani Cele.
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