Jockey Shabalala

Ladysmith Black Mambazo member


member name=Jockey Shabalala
years=1974 - 2005
dob=1943
dead=February 11, 2006
status=Married
occupation=Formerly bass member

Jockey Shabalala (1943 - 11 February 2006) was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph.

Jockey was born the South African town of Ladysmith (eMnambithi), and grew up with six other siblings. His brother Joseph, being the eldest, had to take care of the family and their mother when their father, Jonathan Mluwane Shabalala, died in 1945. After moving to Durban c. 1957 to find work, Joseph founded the first incarnation of Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1960 with his brothers Headman and Enoch and various other relatives. Jockey decided to continue working; he painted cars. In 1974, after the success of Mambazo's first album, Joseph managed to persuade Jockey to join the group, where he became a full-time member by the late 1970s.

In October 2004, Jockey decided to retire from international touring to spend more time with his family, though still continued recording and performing with the group in South Africa. It was in mid-2005 when Jockey became ill with numerous health problems when he fully retired from the group.

Jockey died in February 2006. He is survived by his wife and four adult children.