Elias Lerole and His Zig Zag Jive Flutes

This studio band was perhaps one of the most popular penny-whistle jive outfits in South Africa in the mid-50s, and released the first version from the evergreen and hypnotic ‘Tom Hark’ in 1956. Although an enormous international strike for the group – spawning countless cover variations from Ted Heath in the 50s to present – the people from the Zig Zag Jive Flutes are respected to have obtained just $10 each because of their initiatives, while composer Aaron Lerole, Elias’ sibling, received the princely amount of $15 as well as the added accolade of experiencing his song acknowledged to manufacturer Ernest Bopape. Nevertheless, that was showbusiness, 50s-design, in South Africa.