Remembering our Queen of Pop…
Brenda Fassie
UPDATED:
UPDATED:
Her most popular hit released in 1983,Weekend Special still gets people turning up the volume, singing along and dancing today - proving that Brenda's legacy still lives on! The song led to her being recognized abroad, along with the Big Dudes in places such as The United States, Britain, Europe, Australia and Brazil.
Affectionately she was known as 'Ma brrr' amongst her fans. Tremendous award-winning, success in the music industry led to her being dubbed 'The Madonna of the townships' and 'The Queen of Pop'.
She was loved and made her mark not only for her music, but her role as the voice for black people during apartheid, bold stage antics and outspoken personality too.
Fast Facts
She was born Brenda Nokuzola Fassie in Langa, Cape Town on 3 November,1964.
She was named after American Country Singer, Brenda Lee.
She was the youngest child of 9 children.
Her mother was a pianist. Both her parents have passed away.
Music career
She is known for her popular hits such as Vul’indela , Black President' and Too Late for Mama.
She started singing at the age of 4 and kicked off her singing career by singing for tourists.
She moved to Soweto at the young age of 16, after being discovered by
producer Koloi Lebona.
She joined a group called Joy and later went on to become the lead singer of a group called,Brenda and The Big Dudes.
Weekend Special became the fastest-selling song of all time in South Africa in 1983, Brenda was only 19 at the time.
It also earned a spot on the Billboard Hot Black singles chart in March,1986
After parting ways with the Big Dudes, she partnered with producer Sello "Chicco" Twala to record the 1989 album Too Late for Mama.
She later went on to pursue her solo career in 1996 and released a number of solo albums, such as Now Is The Time, Memeza (1997), and Nomakanjani?.
In 1996, she produced her own album Now Is The Time.
Most of her albums earned multi-platinum status in South Africa; Memeza was the best-selling album in South Africa in 1998.
In 20O1, she was featured in Time Magazine as a global icon.
She is known for her popular hits such as Vul’indela , Black President' and Too Late for Mama.
She started singing at the age of 4 and kicked off her singing career by singing for tourists.
She moved to Soweto at the young age of 16, after being discovered by
producer Koloi Lebona.
She joined a group called Joy and later went on to become the lead singer of a group called,Brenda and The Big Dudes.
Weekend Special became the fastest-selling song of all time in South Africa in 1983, Brenda was only 19 at the time.
It also earned a spot on the Billboard Hot Black singles chart in March,1986
After parting ways with the Big Dudes, she partnered with producer Sello "Chicco" Twala to record the 1989 album Too Late for Mama.
She later went on to pursue her solo career in 1996 and released a number of solo albums, such as Now Is The Time, Memeza (1997), and Nomakanjani?.
In 1996, she produced her own album Now Is The Time.
Most of her albums earned multi-platinum status in South Africa; Memeza was the best-selling album in South Africa in 1998.
In 20O1, she was featured in Time Magazine as a global icon.
Her albums Mina Nawe,Memeza, Amadlozi and Nomakanjani - all earned the title of the country’s most popular album in their respective year of their release at The SAMA's four consecutive years in a row .
Personal Life
In 1985, she had a son, Bongani,with a fellow Big Dudes musician.
She married Nhlanhla Mbambo in 1989,which ended in divorce in 1991.
That same year her career went downhill, after she started abusing cocaine.
In 1995,she went to rehab but relapsed and went to rehab a total of 30 times in her life.
A one music special will be broadcasted on SABC1's Live Amp tonight .
The Brenda Fassie Legacy Tour has been launched. The tour will take place across all 9 provinces, until the end of the year and feature local and international music artists, a photographic exhibition and a talent search .
A memorial service for Brenda Fassie is also expected to take place next month at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
One can’t help but wonder ‘’What if Brenda still lived today?,''she still had so much to offer the music industry.
2014
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