A trip into a musical past
ANIGHT of song, good music and dance will transport audience of a nostalgic trip to the good old days. Seasoned show promoter Rocco Thakurdin will host the The Great Golden Oldies Nite next month, and it will be a delight for both the young and old.
Thakurdin, 67, from Morningside, Durban, has been in the business of show promotions for 42 years and has done over 150 shows. He started in 1976 with Himmat Youth Club, as their general manager, and raised money for charity and promoting variety shows.
“Back in those days, sari queen competitions, like the Eastern Band and Sari SA competition, as well as the band contests, were popular,” said Thakurdin. “Nowadays it is more about promoting local talent – we need to create a platform for home-grown artists to get recognition so that they are on par with international artists. In my new show, I feature an up-andcoming singer and guitarist, Rishern Rambakus. He has amazing talent and his singing style is similar to the late, great Kishore Kumar.”
Rambakus, 27, of Queensburgh, started playing the guitar at age five and the piano at 10. He said he was excited about performing on the “big stage” for the first time.
Thakurdin said other artists will include, “local nightingale” Shavina Mohan who is known for her take on Lata Mangeshkar and chutney (Bhojpuri) songs by Kanchan. Vish Sewpersad will do a rendition of Mohammed Rafi’s songs. Bhojpuri maestro Vikesh Moonilall and classical singer Nirasha Singh are the other performers.
The Chatsworth-based Karishma Show Band will provide the music.
“Niresh Mohan will add his flair of talent with his mesmerizing dances,” said Thakurdin.
Thakurdin said his career took off in the eighties, when he started promoting chutney music.
“I promoted six chutney and nagara shows in a row, at Durban City Hall, with record breaking crowds,” he said. “In 1990, I promoted chutney nagara shows of the decade at the Village Green. I was the first Indian promoter to host a cultural show at this venue. This led to chutney and nagara music becoming popular not only in Durban, but across South Africa.”
Through the years he had a host of shows, in different music genres, but his focus stayed fixed on uncovering and promoting local talent.
The event will be held on May
5, at Rajput Hall in Chatsworth, south of Durban at 7.30pm. Tickets cost R100, available at Computicket, Shoprite Checkers and at the door.