South African singer Lorraine Klaasen returns for Bring Back the Love

South African world music singer, Lorraine Klaasen, will be flying to Jamaica for the third staging of Bring Back The Love concert, scheduled for Saturday, April 20 at the Courtleigh Auditorium in St Andrew.

An LDC Enterprises production, Bring Back the Love also features the equally versatile Pam Hall and smooth crooner/keyboard maestro Harold Davis, with backing by Desi Jones and the band. Fae Ellington will be compère for the evening.

The promoters, in a release, expressed their delight at being able “to present this amazing line-up of artistes, and to welcome the fantastic Lorraine Klaasen back to Jamaica”.

Klaasen was primed for musical stardom virtually from birth, being the daughter of legendary South African jazz singer Thandi Klaasen. From the influence of her mother and other legends, such as Miriam Makeba and Dorothy Rathebe, she launched her own career at a very young age, accompanying her mother to live performances all over South Africa, as well as to the neighbouring states of Mozambique and Swaziland.

After touring the world, Klaasen eventually settled in Canada, living first in Montreal before moving to her current base of London, Ontario. She has performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and her international itinerary has included the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. She and her mother are also reputed as two of Nelson Mandela’s favourite musicians.

In 2013, at the 42nd Annual JUNO Awards, Klaasen won a gong in the World Music Album of the Year category for her latest album, A Tribute to Miriam Makeba. As a promoter of the performing arts for Canadian youth, Klaasen has lent her support to various groups and organisations such as RapSohD Talented Teens Canada.

For her latest project, Klaasen returns with long-time collaborator, guitarist and producer, Mongezi Ntaka, formerly from the late Lucky Dube’s band. The collection, titled Ukubonga (Gratitude) preserves and amplifies the classic Township sound that launched many of the South African musical legends who shaped her own career.