22 Jul 2018

Those who love music of The Temptations would be treated to a memorable evening when the American-based group performs in the country at GICC this Friday (July 27).  

The yesteryear but still relevant RnB and Soul music legends will be in the country to perform alongside the upcoming Tshepiso Molosiwa who will be performing with his band called, Tshepi Live.

Molosiwa, who ventured into the industry some years back, said it was the love of music that drew him into the industry and not to make quick money. 

“I am doing this in the name of love and if money comes in it is just a bonus,” he said.

Before considering going into the studio for recording, he acquired experience through performing at social occasions and corporate functions where he attained feedback from music lovers.

His musical talent came to the fore at the age of 11 while he was a student in Francistown where he was regularly called upon to lead the singing with his guitar during morning assembly sessions. 

Molosiwa went on to be part of the band at secondary school and later at the University of Botswana under the careful eye of the late Tsilo Baitsile whom he said laid a firm foundation for his musical career. 

The CD that he will launch has mature kind of music likely to appeal to both the young and the elderly as he looks up to Lionel Richie and obviously the Temptations for inspiration.

At some stage, Molosiwa said he was a resident performer at Botsalo Hotel in Palapye and subsequently moved to Gaborone where he became a resident entertainer at Gaborone Sun before it transformed to the current Avani line of luxury hotels. 

Molosiwa, who is currently working round the clock making finishing touches for the  launch, said he grabbed the attention of the lead vocalist of the Temptations' Bernard Gipson while in Johannesburg working on his debut album simply titled, Dumelang. 

He said the song Dumelang enticed Gipson and they ended up recording it together, making the lovely 10-track CD an international collaboration, bringing the US and Botswana together in musical terms. 

A statement from the band says the collaboration makes it befitting for The Temptations to be invited to the launch of the Dumelang, a situation which will be some kind of musical tourism for the visitors who will get a glimpse of the local music scene. 

The occasion will also give Batswana the opportunity to appreciate music of The Temptations and their impressive dance routines with outstanding tunes such as, Papa was a rolling Stone, My Girl, The Way You Do Things You Do and others. 

The show, which promises to provide a lot of entertainment to those who would turn up will also feature, South African-based renowned Zimbabwean guitarist, Louis Mhlanga who once graced some of the yesteryear jazz joints such as Jazz Brew in Mochudi. 

There will also be the talented local poet and jazzman Moroka Moreri, Vusi from South Africa and also plenty of oldies tunes that will take a lot of the expected elderly crowd back in time. ENDS