It was originally set up to distribute recordings imported from Brunswick Records in the USA, but Gallo noticed that despite a wealth of local musical talent there was no recording studio in the entire country. Gallo Record Company is South Africa’s largest independent record label, founded in 1926 by Eric Gallo it now owns 75% of all the recorded music from South Africa. In 1939 he was discovered by Griffith Motsieloa, a talent scout working for Gallo Record Company. They developed their act performing at weddings and entering choir competitions. Solomon Linda found work at the Carlton Hotel and started his own choir using the Evening Birds name.

The group was originally managed by Linda’s two uncles, Solomon and Amon Madondo, and they disbanded in 1933. Solomon’s group were regular winners of these contests. The choir took part in local singing contests that were a big part of the community, often the prize would be a goat or some other livestock. He took a job in a furniture shop during the day and sung in a choir called The Evening Birds at night. In 1931 he left Pomeroy to look for work in Johannesburg. Solomon Linda was born in 1909 in Pomeroy a small town in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. In fact, the style is also known as Mbube, named after Solomon Linda’s most famous song, it’s that song that is the basis of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. Solomon Popoli Ntsele, also known by his clan name “Linda”, was a South African singer known for what is now called Isicathamiya, a type of South African a capella singing later made world-famous by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Solomon Linda (far left) & The Evening Birds, holding 3 of their trophies for singing contests.

Wimoweh song