PROFESSOR RHYTHM 4: Radihepehepe (1992)

Diamond/Tusk, TUH38

Producer: Professor Rhythm

Engineer: David Moloele

Recorded at: Shandel Music

Thami Mdluli started out as bass player for the Hot Soul Singers and got into production during stints with CJB and Taboo, also producing for other artists such as Benjamin Ball and Sox. At the end of the 80s he left Eric Frisch to join Tusk and embarked on a solo career as Professor Rhythm, releasing four gold-selling albums that showcased his production skills in some of South Africa's earliest fully electronic dance music. Mdluli later moved into gospel and then jazz, and currently runs a recording studio, Studio 12, as well as a publishing company in Johannesburg.

* Mint copies of this album are for sale here 

PROFESSOR RYTHEM - Second Time Around (1990)

Eric Frisch, EFL1051
Producer: Professor Rythem   
Engineer: John Wainwright       
Recorded at: Stylus Studio

"Do you remember this sound? What sound it this? Can you tell? Professor is back again with his sound - EARTHQUAKE!" Prolific producer Thami Mdluli's second album is more instrumental synth-pop (also done by the likes of Rex Rabanye and Black Moses) that was a forerunner to kwaito and house at a time when artists were forging a future sound to succeed bubblegum. Featuring popular backing singers Beulah Hashe, Marilyn Nokwe and Stella Khumalo. It was succeeded the following year by Professor 3, by which time the spelling of Rythem had been corrected.

PROFESSOR RHYTHM - Professor 3 (1991)

Tusk/Diamond, TUH 15
Producer: Professor Rhythm (Thami Mdluli)
Engineer: Fab Grosso
Recorded at: Private House Studios

Pre-kwaito studio album from influential producer Thami Mdluli. Born in Alexandra, Mdluli moved to Tembisa at 12... "in Tembisa he started playing guitar at the age of thirteen. by the time he turned fifteen he was already a professional playing for Sam Mthembu's Tembisa Happy Queens. In 1979 when the group became the Hot Soul Singers, it was so popular they they played side by side with visiting overseas groups like the O'Jays. This exposed Thami to many ideas and together with the other band members they decided to form Sound Busters. After initiating the formation of CJB, he later formed a duo, Taboo, with Buli Arosi."

"Thami decided to do part-time productions at Eric Frisch Productions. Eric Frisch had worked with Phil Hollis, but later started his own record company. Some of the musicians Thami produced included Sox, Jimaro, Sensations, Nana Moloi, Malcolm X Makume and Alexandra Brass Band. On his productions Thami had a tendency of releasing dub mix versions of hit tracks. His fans pushed him to follow that trend seriously, and this resulted  in his solo proect under the name, 'Professor Rhythm'. His debut album was First Time Around (1989), featuring the hit 'Sebeletsa Hae'. The next album was Second Time Around (1990), followed by Professor 3 (1991) featuring the hits 'Uskamosothotsa' and 'Raditaba (Nozindaba)', up to Professor 5 (1993) on Tusk's Diamond label. Some of his other projects include The Boss featuring Stella, which released the album Dance for My Song (1991)....Thami retired from live performances in 1993 and focused on studio productions". (from Mojapelo 2008:41)

TABOO – Amigo

EFP

Producer: Professor Rhythm (Thami Mdluli)


"English Disco" album from former members of the Sound Busters and CJB band, Thami Mdluli and Buli Arosi formed a duo, using the first syllables of their names:- Tha + Bu = Taboo. Besides Amigo, other albums included Self-Service, Vampire, Salute, Ba Ile, Amasela, The Woman Nextdoor, Sex is Taboo and Noma Bangatheni (Mojapelo, 2008:118).

THE BOSS ft. STELLA - Dance for My Song (1991)

Diamond/Tusk
Producer: Thami "Professor Rhythm" Mdluli
Engineer: David Moloele

One of many successful side projects for influential producer Thami Mdluli.