In 1991, he was a founder member of the highly
successful group Loading Zone, which went on to tour
across the continent, backing a range of South
African stars including Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba,
Brenda Fassie, Chicco and Sipho Mabuse. During this
period, Jimmy also recorded with Miriam Makeba on
the album "Eyes on Tomorrow", and participated in
the Sun City production Sax Appeal, appearing with
the likes of Rene McLean, Winston Mankunku, Robbie
Jansen, Victor Ntoni and the late Duke Makasi. A
highlight of this period was Loading Zone's Namibian
tour in 1992, when they were spotted by Zairean
world-music star Papa Wemba, who subsequently asked
the band to back him on several dates in Namibia.
Jimmy Dludlu
Jimmy Dludlu
was 13 years old when he first picked
up a cousin's home made guitar and started teaching
himself to play by imitating the jazz and African
music he heard on the radio. His first performances
were at township weddings and functions with his
cousin.
His career took off in earnest in the mid-1980's,
when he worked with various southern African bands
including Impandze from Swaziland, featuring
Jamaican singer Trevor Hall, Kalahari and Satari
from Botswana, as well as Anansi, featuring the
Ghanaian saxophonist George Lee. A highlight of this
period was his performance with Anansi at the
Botswana Independence celebrations in 1986,
alongside a range of African stars including Thomas
Mapfumo.
Jimmy Dludlu
In Johannesburg in 1990, Jimmy worked as a session
musician. He worked with McCoy Mrubata and his band
Brotherhood, which a year later won the Gilbey's
Music of Africa Competition. In September 1990, he
also took part in the Market Theatre production
Conversations with Canadian Bruce Cassidy on Trumpet
and EVI, and South African Barney Rachabane on sax.
Jimmy Dludlu
Jimmy was now hanging out with the likes of Robbie
Jansen, Winston Mankunku and Victor Ntoni; his
career was well on track. A year later Loading Zone
was touring Namibia. Coincidentally, the Zairian
Papa Wemba was also on tour and he invited the band
to back him at several performances. The following
year he was at the Smirnoff Jazz Festival in
Grahamstown with the band Ojoyo and again in 1994
with Herb Ellis (formerly with Oscar Petersen).
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