Solomon Linda

Solomon Linda (Pomeroy, 1909–Soweto, 8 September 1962) was a South African singer. He is known internationally for his 1939 hit "Mbube", which later became the basis for "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", originally performed by The Tokens. He formed his vocal group, Solomon Linda's Original Evening Birds in 1933, which he conducted until its disbandment in 1949. He pioneered the musical genre Mbube (named after his song), which later became known as Isicathamiya.
== Early years ==
Solomon Popoli Linda was born not far from Pomeroy in the rural and miserable region of Msinga, in Zulu country. He entered the Gordon Memorial Mission school3rd Ear Music Forum - Where does the lion sleep tonight? (archive.org). Influenced by the wave of syncopated music that had swept over South Africa from the United States, already in the 1880s, he created Zulu songs which he then sang with friends at weddings or receptions.
In 1931, Linda followed the flow of young Africans who left their homes to find unrewarding but vital work in Johannesburg, at that time very extensive and exploiting its gold mines. Solomon Linda found a job in his uncle's furniture store, and the rest of the time sang in the Evening Birds Choir, which split up in 1933. He then founded a new group called Solomon Linda's Original Evening Birds, and began working on the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg. The group switched from entertainment at banquets to singing competitions. Linda's popularity grew with the Evening Birds performing a popular act, dressed in striped tails, bowler hats, and black and white shoes.
== Mbube ==
Linda's group was spotted in 1938 by singer Griffith Motsieloa, signed to Gallo Record Company. The first track by the Evening Birds, "Makasane" was released in 1938. It was recorded at the recording studio of the Gallo label, owned by Eric Gallo, an Italian immigrant and founder of the label.
It was in 1939 that Solomon Linda recorded the song "Mbube" for three takes, under the direction of Griffith Motsieloa. The first two takes without instruments, it is in the third take that Motsieloa decides to take Emily Motsieloa (pianist), Willie Gumede (banjo) and Peter Rezant (guitarist) to accompany the Evening Birdsflatinternational - south african audio archive - Solomon Linda's Original Evening Birds - Mbube / Ngi Hambiki. At around minute 2:20, Linda improvises the melody, later assigned to the lyrics: "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight". 
The song had become a hit in South Africa during the 1940s and sold over 100,000 copiesSeeking justice for Lion Sleeps Tonight composer - BBC News. The Evening Birds group disbanded in 1948, then Solomon Linda married his wife, Regina (died February 16, 1990).
== Later years ==
Solomon Linda had the copyright of "Mbube", until the American group The Weavers released its version in 1952, which will push the managers of Gallo to obtain the copyright of the tube, which they will eventually obtain in January 1952, unconsciously ceded by Solomon Linda.
Later in 1959, Linda collapsed on stage and was diagnosed with kidney failureSolomon Popoli Linda, singer and composer, dies | South African History Online (sahistory.org.za). He had time to listen to the version of "Mbube" interpreted by The Tokens as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"3rd Ear Music Forum - Where Does the Lion Sleep Tonight? - Part 2 (archive.org), which had made him happy, before his sudden death on September 8, 1962 in JohannesburgSolomon Linda's Tombstone (findagrave.com).
== Linda-Disney settlement ==
In the early 2000s a South African journalist, Rian Malan, investigated the origin of the title and its author, and the small sums that the heirs received. His descendants sued Disney in court for the use of the song in the film and musical The Lion King, and the artists who used Solomon Linda's song without paying the corresponding copyright.
In 2006, a settlement granted rights to Solomon Linda's daughters, who until then had lived in poverty.
== Songs ==
* "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
== References ==
Category:Lyricists
Category:People
Category:Real world
Category:Singers