#  Talent Scouts & In-House Producers

In this fourth episode of Gallo Vault Sessions picks up on some threads from earlier in the season, and takes a look at some of the stories behind the talent scouts and in-house producers at the labels that would eventually fall under Gallo Music; the people behind so much of the music, and who in some ways had exceptional power to shape the sound of what we have come to associate with South Africa’s music. Throughout this episode we will explore how the very structure of labels’ relying on talent scouts to help shape and package artists for the Black music market set up a situation where talent scouts became the very buffer zone between labels who profited off Black recorded music, and the artists who bore the brunt of industry exploitation and financial disregard. We touch on the legacies of producers Griffiths Motsieloa, Cuthbert Matumba, David Thekwane and Rupert Bopape. We hear from legendary pennywhistler & organ jive player Bra Lulu Masilela from The Boyoyo Boys, Mam Hilda Tloubatla, the original soprano from The Mahotella Queens, as well as Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, Bra Mikes Swaratle and Rob Allingham who you met in previous episodes. Gallo Vault Sessions in collaboration with KONJO You can listen to our specially KONJO curated all-vinyl mix by Naledi Chai from Fly Machine Sessions which explores music from some of the more prominent producers in SA music history here.Talking points: producers, Griffiths Motsieloa, Cuthbert Matumba, Rupert Bopape, David Thekwane, Hilda Tloubatla, Mahotella Queens, Makgona Tsohle Band, Izintombi ZesiManjemanje, Zacks Nkosi, royalties, exploitation, Booker T, penny whistles, label power dynamics, Dorothy Masuku, organ jive Guests: Hilda Tloubatla, Lulu Masilela, Rob Allingham, Mike Swaratle, Sipho Hotstix MabuseNarrator: Kineta KunutuWriter: Zara Julius @ KONJOProducer: Zara Julius @ KONJOResearcher: Zara Julius @ KONJOArtwork: PR$DNT HONEYProduction support: The Good People Follow us on @gallorecordcompany & @k.o.n.j.o