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Thammy Mdluli

David Mdluli who is also known as Thammy Mdluli in the music fraternity is one of South Africa’s most successful musicians specializing in bass guitar as a jazz musician and a world renowned music producer. With a career spanning over 4 decades which began with Jazz then later crossing over to disco music and resettling back to Jazz where he began – Thammy has seen and lived through the evolution of music over the past 40+ years. Most of those in the music industry will know Thammy’s work with the top-selling Gospel group, IPCC – but not only that, the talented artist has also released 5 Jazz albums which saw his first jazz album being nominated in the Mtn Sama awards.

THE RISE OF THE MUSICAL LEGEND

Thammy Mdluli started his music career with the group that was playing african jazz, later he join the group that was playing Soul that time soul music was sizzling hot and Thammy then living inTembisa following the Alexandra forced removals) was being influenced by the likes of The Movers and the Flaming Soul. It’s no wonder then that the first band he joined was called Hot Soul Singers. Thammy came on as the group’s bass guitarist and found himself mastering classic soul numbers as well taking small steps into original composition, along with the other band members.

Amongst the achievements of the Hot Soul Singers was the recording of a handful of seven singles as well as opening for the O’Jay s during their early 80s tour of South Africa. On various shows where international names like Two Tons of Fun, Gene Chandler, and Clarence Carter, were performing in SA, Thammy and his crew were the curtain raisers for the packed shows.

The group split and formed the new band called Sound Bust. Their Musical Skills earned them time in the recording studio – at one time they were the studio backing group for Ali Katt and Benjamin Ball’s disco-reggae album, Flash A Flashlight. Other group’s followed for Thammy – including Stints with the legendary CJB and Taboo, both of which provided the young musician with a real flair and taste for township pop music. But, more than that, Tammy’s time with these groups provided him with burgeoning producing skills – in the mid-80s, he was working behind-the-scenes on albums for CJB as well as the group Sox who’s 1988 album, Don’t Call Me, sold more than 200 000 copies.

1990 saw Thammy moving from Eric Frisch Productions (where he had worked as a producer) to Tusk Records where he enjoyed a stunning rise in his career – a career which included a solo, township pop album of his own under the name Professor Rhythm then EMI CCP Records as a joint Venture partner in his Tammy music publishing label

BORN TO PRODUCE HITS

Mdluli is one of the few producers around the world who is known for not only mastering one genre of music but having produced multiple albums in multiple genres and witnessing those albums sell gold to multi-platinum. To date Thammy has worked with the likes of IPCC, Berita, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Phuzekhemisi. Soweto Strings Quartet, iHashi Elimhlophe. Thokozani Langa, Jaiva Zimnike, Winnie Mashaba, Solly Moholo, Rebecca Malope, Lusanda Spiritual Group, Alexandra Brass band. Galathia. Soldiers of the cross.Thulani Manana, Khaya, 12 Apostoles, Amanazaretha, and many more having sold over 50 million collectively in his 43 years in the music industry

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Thammy Mdluli went back to where he started with jazz music being all the craze.Thammy has released his fifth anticipated Jazz album titled Tikzo Jazz featuring the likes of the Soweto Strings Quartet, Paul Hanmer, McCoy Mrubata Ola John Aina and Jonathan Crosley. His music which is available for download is distributed by the top American distribution company The Orchards.Thammys’ music has been on high rotation and has featured on sync deals and on background music at uKhozi FM on Jabulujule with LadyD Khoza. Thammy has babbed one of the biggest sync deals with GTA5 with his song Professor 3 featuring on their video games. Thammy is busy promoting his latest offering and is touring Southern Africa and European countries
performing with his 7 piece strong band. From time to time Mdluli performs with a 11 piece band in select festivals which includes the Soweto Strings Quartet which feature on a few of his projects. Thammy is a huge advocate in
the business of music and to date he frequents lecture halls giving talks on the business of music. Thammy specializes in music jingles which has featured in sports channels and radio adverts