Ratau Mike Makhalemele

Many consider Ratau Mike Makhalemele among Southern Africa’s leading saxophonists. Playing expertly since the past due ’60s, Makhalemele produced his widest impression as an associate from the Drive, an organization he created with Henry Sithole in the 1970s. An extremely respected session participant, Makhalemele spent some time working with Champion Jack port Dupree, Joe Henderson, Curtis Mayfield, and Clarence Carter. Furthermore to playing on Paul Simon’s recording, Graceland, he toured with Simon, Ladysmith Dark Mambazo, and Miriam Makeba in 1987 and 1988. The child of the preacher, Makhalemele cites American jazz music artists Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Joe Henderson as affects. His greatest impact, nevertheless, was South African saxophonist, Kippie Moeketsi. He lately portrayed Moeketsi inside a stage creation on the Civic Movie theater in Johannesburg. Makhalemele’s debut single album, Thabang, premiered in 1990. His record, Searching For THE REALITY, received a FNB South African Music Award (SAMA) as Greatest Traditional Jazz Peformance, in 2000.