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Language:

English

Genre:

Reggae

Instrument:

Male vocals

Biography

Lucky Dube was the son of a single mother who thought she could not have children. Her first child therefore was given the name "Lucky". Dube (pronounced "Dobe") is a town area in Johannesburg.
Lucky Dube had a tough upbringing and lived in turn, with his mother, grandmother, and an uncle. He began to sing in bars in his home town and in church. He and his comrades began drumming around and started a band, but they couldn't afford to buy instruments. They tried to persuade moneyed people to sponsor them but, when they were unsuccessful, Lucky Dube wrote a play that the guys performed. This brought in just enough to purchase a guitar, and they started the Skyway band. They began by playing mbaqanga. They were together for 2 years before Lucky Dube joined the Love Brothers, a mbaqanga band led by Richard Siluma, who later became Lucky's manager.
After a few years as a mbaqanga singer Lucky decided, in the early 1980s, to switch to reggae. The influence came from artists like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. He had his baptism of fire as a reggae artist when he played at the Sunsplash Festival in Jamaica, before the world's most critical reggae audiences, and was a success.
Lucky Dube made a type of melodious, African reggae that slowly but surely has turned him into a superstar. He sang powerfully in English about social problems, the blacks' struggle, and God's greatness. With the song, "Together As One", he became the first black artist in South Africa to be played on a white radio station. He had had no formal musical education, but nevertheless played several instruments and arranges his own songs. His first two albums, “Slave” (about alcoholism) and “Prisoner”, both sold over 500,000 copies and are the best selling disks ever in South Africa. Lucky Dube was one of Africa's most beloved and sought after artists and toured the world over. He was shot and killed outside his home in Johannesburg October 18th 2007. His death is a tragic loss to the music life in all Africa.

Relevant artists:
Ismael Isaac
Koko Dembele
Alpha Blondy

RASTAS NEVER DIE/ SAVE THE CHILDREN
Gallo/Melodie/1984/85

Re-issue of 2 older albums on 1 CD

SLAVE
Gallo/Melodie/1987

Lucky Dube's breaktrough album

TOGETHER AS ONE
Gallo/Melodie/1988

PRISONER  
Gallo/Melodie/1989

A classic album from one of reggae singer Bob Marley's heirs.

CAPTURED LIVE  
Gallo/Melodie/1990

Lucky Dube before a huge live audience in South Africa. There's nothing wrong with Dube's communication with his fans.

HOUSE OF EXILE
Gallo/Melodie/1991

VICTIMS  
Shanachie/1993

Many strong songs here, from the swift "Different Colours/One People" at the beginning to the slow and cutting "My Game". Lucky Dube's powerful voice sways across the precise backing, comprised of bass, drums, two keyboards, and last but not least, the female choir comprised of Marilyn, Deborah and Felicia, whose singing sends shivers down one's back. Add to all this the solid input from brass and guitar, and you have an incredibly strong blend. There is one minus - the bombastic song, "Little Heroes", against free abortion - switch it off.

TRINITY  
Tabu/1995

An album with bigger arrangements than before, as on the title track where members of the Soweto String Quartet collaborate. On "Life In The Movies", superimposed for effect are recordings of sirens and street riots. This works, for the most part, but it is one of Lucky Dube's more commercial albums. The lyrics are, as before, serious commentaries about the situation in a land still on the brink of a race war. It's very good. But the attempt at soul on the last track, "You've Got No Right", I pass by in silence.

SERIOUS REGGAE BUSINESS  
Gallo/Melodie/1996

Solid compilation album. 17 songs of fat African reggae.
1. Mr DJ
2. Feel Irie
3. Together As One
4. Slave
5. Steel Bars
6. Prisoner
7. Reggae Strong
8. Oh My Son (I’m Sorry)
9. Remember Me
10. I Want To Know What Love Is
11. House Of Exile
12. Peace Perfect Peace
13. Victims
14. I’ve Got You Babe
15. It’s Not Easy
16. Different Colours - One People
17. Back To My Roots

TAXMAN
Gallo/Melodie/1997

THE WAY IT IS  
Gallo/Melodie/1999

Lucky Dube is in many ways back where he started, with straight keyboard-based reggae. But the arrangements are as tight as before, with Skipper Shabalala's electric guitar way forward in the picture. On the 7 minute long "Man In The City" it works magnificently; it’s one of the strongest reggae songs I have heard in a long time. And Lucky Dube's desire for justice in South Africa has never been more topical - unfortunately. Yes, Lucky Dube is one of the lads.

ROUGH GUIDE TO LUCKY DUBE
Rough Guide Music/2001

”Reggae Man”, from 1986 equals his Rough Guide CD release of Dube compositions. The disk, like the song, is taken from ”Rastas Never Die”, one of the first reggae albums to come out of the segregated state. It was censured by the South African State Broadcasting System. The Government banned anything that implied criticism of the apartheid regime. This did not prevent Dube becoming one of the most popular artists in Africa during the past 20 years, regardless of his songs. The ”Slave” album of 1987 sold over 500,000 copies and was one of the best-selling discs ever in that continent. In the years that followd, Dube toured across the whole of Africa and in 1992 embarked on a world tour that lasted several years. During this period he also released several albums. ”Trinity” came out in 1995, and the song ”Feel Irie” from that album is to be found in this collection. Of the many noteworthy songs from Dube this is perhaps my favourite, with its heavy rhythm and bass, strolling guitar riffs, delightful backing vocals and delicate phrasing delivered by the top man himself. Its popularity has lasted throughout the 1990s, but when Jamaican reggae became digitalised Dube and many of the African reggae artists were left behind. But even if he didn’t compose even basic songs, as at the beginning of the 1990s, and perhaps didn’t have the ability to enjoy and develop his music, by the end of the 1990s, he is still a highly valued artist whose name you can find at the top of festival plackards. This compendium album shows you why.

Noralv Pedersen

SOUL TAKER  
Gallo/Melodie/2001

"Soul Taker" starts with the fast and catchy "Put A Little Love" immediately draws you into Lucky Dube’s musical universe, that consists of heavy bass, gasping keyboard and fantastic voices, from either Lucky Dube himself or his backing singers. After this formidable opening the album never lets you off the hook. In my opinion Lucky Dube reaches new heights on this disk. He sings with greater authority than ever, his band takes more risks, and there are many enjoyable details in the backing. The musicians are not afraid of popping in little drum solos, catchy saxophone riffs or laidback keyboard chords. And, most important of all, the nerve and engagement is there all the time. Lucky Dube has a tendency to sound melodramatic in his discriptions of South Africa’s harsh realities; at his worst he can be quite affected, in fact. But this time he balances everything perfectly, whether it concerns love (" I'm Your Romeo, Will You Be My Juliet?") or the more political lyrics of "Teach The World" and "Is This Freedom?". The music just billows forth, filling you with joy and engagement, and grabs you by the heart. A damned strong achievement. Lucky Dube's best thus far!

THE OTHER SIDE
Gallo/Melodie/2003

RESPECT
Gallo/Melodie/2006

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