Forget the cat with its nine lives. Is there any musician who has reinvented himself like Jamela Vuma?
The artist formerly known as Sgonondo and Jamela goes as J Ross - quite a smooth option if you ask me.
"I changed my stage name to rebrand. I felt that the whole Jamela stuff was too much, especially after I started my own thing," he says.
But there is more to Vuma than name changing. As he morphs with age, he proves his prowess and longevity in the topsy-turvy game of entertainment.
He recently reunited with his father Tom, who lives in Burgersfort in Limpopo, after years of separation.
It was the tragic death of Vuma's sister Nomthandazo that not only brought about a physical reunion but yielded a cathartic song for the family in pain.
The tune titled Number One is sung by Vuma and produced by Tom, who in the past worked with the likes of Steve Kekana.
Tom played the guitar when the family travelled back from Durban, where Nomthandazo was buried. The chords he played moved Vuma to ask his old man to produce music for him. The song is now on radio.
At just 33, Vuma has already been in the industry for 16 years and has produced for artists like Brenda Fassie, Chicco Twala, Chomee, Jub Jub, Gang of Instrumentals, Speedy, JR, Bantu Soul, Kelly Khumalo and his former boss, Arthur Mafokate.
"I have learned to keep relationships and to respect the next person. I also have learned a lot from Arthur.
"I worked with him for 10 years and I have been watching how he runs his business. I now hope I will be more successful than him and build a bigger company than his. This is purely because he is someone I respect," says Vuma.
Vuma is also a Safta-nominated actor in the best supporting role in a TV comedy for his portrayal of Intelligent in the SABC1 comedy Ses'Top La.
He co-owns Black Soul Inc along with actors Mandla N, Tumi Masemola, Gordon Tlale and Bantu Soul.
The record company boasts a roster that includes Sne Zungu, Tumi Masemola, Bantu Soul and rapper Bo Maq. It is a subsidiary of a group that includes Black Brain Productions, producers of Ses'Top La.
With a cleaner image - what with past tabloid scandals with his childhood friend Jub Jub - Vuma is now an ambassador of Goodbye Malaria, an anti-malaria initiative by Nando's.
mashotol@sowetan.co.za
Sgonondo reinvents himself once more
Forget the cat with its nine lives. Is there any musician who has reinvented himself like Jamela Vuma?
The artist formerly known as Sgonondo and Jamela goes as J Ross - quite a smooth option if you ask me.
"I changed my stage name to rebrand. I felt that the whole Jamela stuff was too much, especially after I started my own thing," he says.
But there is more to Vuma than name changing. As he morphs with age, he proves his prowess and longevity in the topsy-turvy game of entertainment.
He recently reunited with his father Tom, who lives in Burgersfort in Limpopo, after years of separation.
It was the tragic death of Vuma's sister Nomthandazo that not only brought about a physical reunion but yielded a cathartic song for the family in pain.
The tune titled Number One is sung by Vuma and produced by Tom, who in the past worked with the likes of Steve Kekana.
Tom played the guitar when the family travelled back from Durban, where Nomthandazo was buried. The chords he played moved Vuma to ask his old man to produce music for him. The song is now on radio.
At just 33, Vuma has already been in the industry for 16 years and has produced for artists like Brenda Fassie, Chicco Twala, Chomee, Jub Jub, Gang of Instrumentals, Speedy, JR, Bantu Soul, Kelly Khumalo and his former boss, Arthur Mafokate.
"I have learned to keep relationships and to respect the next person. I also have learned a lot from Arthur.
"I worked with him for 10 years and I have been watching how he runs his business. I now hope I will be more successful than him and build a bigger company than his. This is purely because he is someone I respect," says Vuma.
Vuma is also a Safta-nominated actor in the best supporting role in a TV comedy for his portrayal of Intelligent in the SABC1 comedy Ses'Top La.
He co-owns Black Soul Inc along with actors Mandla N, Tumi Masemola, Gordon Tlale and Bantu Soul.
The record company boasts a roster that includes Sne Zungu, Tumi Masemola, Bantu Soul and rapper Bo Maq. It is a subsidiary of a group that includes Black Brain Productions, producers of Ses'Top La.
With a cleaner image - what with past tabloid scandals with his childhood friend Jub Jub - Vuma is now an ambassador of Goodbye Malaria, an anti-malaria initiative by Nando's.
mashotol@sowetan.co.za
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