Summary
Mbulu had already married Caiphus Semenya, whom she had met while touring with "King Kong" but her calling yearned for something bigger and better than what life thus fer had offered. So in 1965, she came to the United States. She had learned that many of her "homies" (South African exiles) had found artistic refuge in the U.S. including such notables as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masakela and Jonas Gwangwa, all of whom were graduates of the musical, "King Kong."
In 1973, Mbulu appeared as a singer in Sidney Poitier's "A Warm December." In the late 70s, she chanted the opening theme song in Alex Haley's "Roots," I and IIconsidered among the highest rated television miniscries-in which she also used the interpretation of one of her husband's previously-recorded pieces, "Oluwa." (In the music world, she was affectionately called the "Roots" lady, for projecting a sophistication and warmth that stirred hope for attaining pure love, beauty and unity in the world). Then there was a lull in the issuance of future albums in the U. S. but Mbulu's career continued with personal performances, musical plays and collaborations with other entertainers, including Semenya. With him, she worked on his first recording called "Listen to the Wind" and then she narrated a documentary about die non-violent struggles of African women entitled "You Have Struck A Rock."Her contributions on the screen continued in Quincy Jones' 1984 soundtrack of "The Color Purple" and as a guest artist on Don Cornelius' "Soul Train.' That was followed by vocal renditions on the Michael Jackson single, "Liberian Girl" from his "Bad" album and an appearance in her husband's musical play BUWA9 a presentation of South African Artists United, which was co-founded by Mbulu.See the full content of this document
Extract
Letta Mbulu
To most of the world die name Sbweto conjures up all the miseries that life produces and human beings can endure however, it can also produce a pot of gold at the end of a musical rainbow. Letta Mbulu, the South African jazz singer is the gold at the end of Soweto's rainbow. She was bom and raised in Soweto, South Africa, but...
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