Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 06:46 PM

The original is on a CD called Mbube Roots. $12.98+S&H from CAMSCO.

Subject: Solomon Linda family lawsuit resolved
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 06:37 PM

From CNN.com (March 22, 2006):

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Three impoverished South African women, whose father wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," have won a six-year battle for royalties in a landmark case that could affect musicians worldwide.

No one is saying how many millions will go to the daughters of the late composer Solomon Linda, who died in poverty from a curable kidney disease in 1962 at age 53.

But the family's settlement with New York-based Abilene Music, which gives Linda's heirs 25 percent of past and future royalties, has broad implications.

Linda composed his now-famous song in 1939 in one of the squalid hostels that housed black migrant workers in Johannesburg. According to family lore, he wrote the song in a matter of minutes and was inspired by his childhood tasks of chasing prowling lions from the cattle he herded.

It was sung, in true Zulu tradition, a cappella. Linda's innovation was to add his falsetto voice, an overlay of haunting "eeeeeees," to the baritone and bass main line. To this day, this style is called Mbube in South Africa.

The rest of the article can be found here.

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: RangerSteve
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 08:14 PM

The original, Mbube, by Solomon Linda and his Original Evening Birds is available on one of the Secret Museum CD's in the Shanachie/Yazoo catalog. There are about 5 volumes, and I'm not sure which one has this song.

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 06:14 PM

According to David Bernz (part of the group Work O The Weavers)Pete Seeger has always sent royalties to the Linda estate and/or family. The recording of The Lion Sleeps Tonight was copyrighted by the people who added, as David B. states, those 10 words which include the lion sleeps tonight. They then kept the royalties---and, as he points out in his statement on stage during performance---besides ripping off the song the lines are totally innacurate since there are no jungles in S Africa, the lion is a plains animal, and is also nocturnal in hunting.

Good thing that Linda will, hopefully, get his due and also nice the Pete Seeger saw to it all those years.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: Jim McLean
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 06:22 PM

The karl Denver Trio recorded Wimoweh in 1961.

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:28 PM

"A South African court has seized Disney's South African trademarks pending legal action over ownership of the copyright to one of the most famous songs to come out of Africa."

A separate court case .... is seeking damages of $2.4 million for non-payment of royalties to Solomon Linda's estate.

From a brief report in the Calgary Herald, July 3, 2004

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: M.Ted
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:24 PM

I am not sure how well they will fare, but my best wishes to them, as well--the Disney folks deserve as much punitive litigation as anyone can muster-

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: sapper82
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:48 PM

Just been mentioned on BBC Radio 4 news that the heirs of Solomon Linda are suing Disney for royalties on their use of the song! Well done and good luck to them!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 12:16 PM

Sorry, I have it on tape--someone gave it to me a while back and I forgot it til after I posted-just listened to it and it is way cool--I timed it out(wacko that I am) the falsetto part comes out once,2:22 seconds into the tune--And Seeger did add a lot--the Solomon Linda version would have never made it to Top 40 radio

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 10:32 AM

I have it on a record called Township Jive to Jazz, which is one of the great records, full of terrific 50's music -- great weird versions of jive songs. A treasure. Tin whistle songs, mandolins, BUY IT!!! As the article relates, the song goes along ("Wimoweh" or whatever) and then in the last ten seconds, Solomon does the falsetto tune. It is worth saying that Pete Seeger gave it a lot of oomph, bringing the tune out.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 10:24 AM

I had some correspondence with the guy who wrote the Rolling Stone article a while back, and he told me that a documentary is in the works--for those who don't know, the song was not stolen from Linda, per se, he signed it away for a pittance, without realizing the consequences. The song as we know it is only a part of the original recording. Not that I've ever heard it. From the first time I read Seeger's account of how they found the song, I've wanted to hear it, though--I think it has finally been compiled on a CD somewhere--anybody got any more details?

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 11:16 AM

Anyone know if anything has happened since 2000? yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 10:26 PM

A couple of years ago, the New York Times Style column in the Sunday Magazine showed a converted farmhouse that the guy who won the lawsuit had. It was a real mansion. They then mentioned that he was the author of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." I shot off a letter to the editors about the above lawsuit and related subjects which was not printed.

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: michaelr
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 12:11 AM

I read that article in Rolling Stone. Fascinating stuff! Pete Seeger does not really come off as a bad guy in it; in fact, he expended some effort to get Linda his due.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 11:10 PM

George Seto (16 Aug 01) referred to the Malan article (2000) in thread 23813. Apparently, of the major American groups, only the Kingston Trio mentioned Solomon Linda in credits.
Lion Sleeps

Subject: Origins: Link to article on 'Mbube/Wimoweh'
From: Stewie
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 10:46 PM

A link to Rian Malan's extensive article on the Mbube/Wimoweh/Lion Sleeps Tonight ... saga was posted to the old-time music newsgroup. I cannot find mention of it in forum searcj so here it is. My apologies if it has been linked previously:

CLICK HERE

Seeger seems to be treated somewhat ungraciously - I would be interested to hear the comments of Frankham and those who have some first-hand knowledge of this.

--Stewie.