Ansell, made these remarks recently when she tried to solicit biography on one of the musicians’ who passed-on Peter Nthoane.
“We should learn from such school boy errors but it seems this keeps occurring,” she bemoaned.
However, the late jazz legend Thandi (née Mpambane) Klaasen‘s death is a contrast to what Nthoane endured.
Klaasen passed-on this last Sunday after being admitted to hospital in December, as a result of suffering from pancreatic cancer.
The affable and tsotsi taal or kasie inclined Klassen, led an illustrious career spanning year’s in the entertainment and music industry and her thick biography is to die for, as far as mid-1950’s in Sophiatown were she performed and be-friended the likes of Sophie Mgcina, Dorothy Masuka, Mirriam Makeba and Dolly Rathebe.
In sending message of condolences to the family on social media platform, the minister of arts & culture Nathi Mthethwa said: “We are saddened to learn that Jazz Legend Thandi Klaasen has passed on. Our thoughts are with her daughter Lorraine, her loved ones, & fans.
uMama Thandi Klaasen will be remembered for her indomitable spirit, who succeeded against all odds and her silky smooth voice which serenaded audiences the world over. How much richer we are having heard her sing.”
“How much she touched our spirits and made us complete beings in a world in which things were falling apart. How her voice endured to sing with us in the age of democracy, during which she was honoured with the order of Ikamanga in Silver in 2006.”
“uMama Thandi Klassen was feisty, street smart, & full of life. She stood the test of time, having had a career which lasted over 5 decades. We’ll remember her song “Sophiatown” where she masterfully & beautifully describes the town where she was brought up,” wrote Mthethwa.
Lorraine Klaasen, her only daughter and singer wrote on Facebook: “Today is the day my Mom left us she passed away this morning peacefully. Thank you all for you’re kind words and prayers I use to share this encouraging scripture Revelations 21 verse 2 3 4. In part it says Even Death will be no more.no pain.no suffering it will be things of the past. We will update for funeral arrangement, On behalf of my family, WE THANK YOU ALL.”
Klaasen was nothing less than a jazz legend. Her career started as a child growing up in the multi-racial Johannesburg suburb of Sophiatown. Her mother was a domestic worker and her father a shoemaker, but her humble origins did not deter her from dreaming big.
Her music ranged in style from brass to Mbaqanga.
As a young primary school girl in Sophiatown, Klaasen was inspired to become a jazz singer when a group called The Jazz Maniacs visited her school.
She began her career singing in local churches and formed her own female quartet called The Quad Sisters.
Then, in her teens, it seemed her career might be short-lived when she was attacked with an acid bomb that permanently disfigured her face.
As a result, she was forced to spend a year in hospital and she struggled to regain her self-confidence to perform in front of people.
This jazz artist persevered and continued to sing, and in 1960s, she starred in the internationally acclaimed musical, King Kong, by composer Todd Matshikiza.
But, like many of her contemporaries, she decided to go abroad to seek her fortune as apartheid was closing down all opportunities for black artists.
Here, she performed with many international stars, among them Roberta Flack and Patti Labelle, and steadily gained a reputation as a jazz singer.
All the while, she stayed close to her roots and still often used e’Kasi lingo, the colloquial dialect that was spoken in her hometown.
Klaasen has received many honours, most recently the presidential Order of the Baobab in Gold from president Jacob Zuma. This jazz legend will always be remembered for her indomitable spirit and as a person who succeeded against all odds.
At the time of publishing messages of condolences were still streaming in world over.
According to SABC she will be given a ‘heroine’s farewell’ by the Government.
A memorial service in honour for Klaasen will take place next Wednesday, which will be followed by a funeral service on Friday.
Rest eternally in Peace tsotsi van Kofifi!
