Gone Too Soon – Lost Legends Come Alive Through Their Greatest Hits
GONE TOO SOON PRESS RELEASE
Lost Music Legends come alive through their Greatest Hits
Starring
Timothy Moloi / Joseph Clark / Mariechan (of Jamali fame)
Featuring
Johannesburg Youth Orchestra
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October
The Lyric at Gold Reef City
The CoLab Network is proud to announce the next exciting show being produced under its banner! GONE TOO SOON will be on stage at The Lyric at Gold Reef City for two shows only on Saturday 20 October at 20h00 and Sunday 21 October at 14h00.
Gone Too Soon is a fabulous tribute to the music legends we all loved, who died way before their time, but live on through their timeless music. The show will delight audiences old and young as they celebrate the powerhouse singers that became legends through their music over the past few decades.
Be transported on an unforgettable journey of pure nostalgia and heart-warming moments as homage is paid to a diverse selection of some of the greats, including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Freddie Mercury, Luther Vandross, George Michael, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Prince, Amy Winehouse, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, John Lennon and more.
South African artists will also be featured in the show, including Brenda Fassie and Mandoza.
While the show pays homage to these music icons who have left us too soon, the focus will be strongly on the uplifting atmosphere of inspiration that they continue to live on through their music, the memories they still evoke in all of us, as well as the impact that so many of them have made on the industry and world as a whole.
Executive Producer, Collett Dawson of The CoLab Network states; “I wanted Gone Too Soon to pay loving tribute to some incredibly talented musicians, who whilst they are not with us physically today, continue to be with us in the music they left behind. These artists have helped contribute to the DNA of the music we hear today. They have left a powerful musical legacy, uniting people from all age groups and races through their music. We all have so many memories linked to specific songs or artists that have woven a tapestry throughout our lives, so my aim with this concert is for the audience to sit back and listen – or to get up and dance – and celebrate the magic of this music.”
Three of South Africa’s most talented vocalists, Timothy Moloi (FIFA 2010 World Cup Opening Ceremony, Always & Forever – A Tribute to Luther Vandross, Great South African Bake Off Celebrity Festive Special, Classics is Groot), Joseph Clark (Joseph Clark – The Music of Queen, Classics is Groot, Queen At The Opera, Buddy Holly – The Buddy Holly Story) and Mariechan (of Jamali, and Popstars fame) will set the stage alight as they perform the instantly recognisable hits.
An exciting collaboration is the inclusion of the superb Johannesburg Youth Orchestra conducted by Eddie Clayton, celebrating their 20th Anniversary, who join the vocalists on stage to evoke over 2 hours of unforgettable memories.
Says Craig Barendsen, Chair of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra; “It has been a pleasure and an honour for us to work with Collett and The CoLab Network who have been onboard with the JYOC for the past 4 years as one of the sponsors for our annual “A Night With The Stars” concerts and a continuous supporter of all our events.”
He continues; “The JYOC heard about this incredible show being put together by Collett and The CoLab Network which coincides with us celebrating our 20th Anniversary. It was only natural for the JYOC to reach out to Collett to see how we could be part of what will be an exciting collaboration paying tribute to some great musicians who influenced music for our past and future generations.
For the JYOC, this performance can bring so much more than music. It is going to help both young and old share memories, create dialogue, strength family relationships, create platforms to discuss the life’s ups and downs of these artists but most of all give us all reason to travel down memory lane.
Gone Too Soon is the ideal concert experience for old and young to celebrate in the magic of the legacies these music icons left behind and the indelible mark they left on all of us.
Gone Too Soon is on at The Lyric at Gold Reef City from 20 – 21 October 2018.
Saturday 20 October at 20h00 and Sunday 21 October at 14h00.
Tickets range from R150 – R280.
Bookings are through www.goldreefcity.co.za or Computicket or by calling The Lyric Theatre Box Office on 011 248 5000.
Discounts for senior citizens, students and scholars apply.
Tsogo Sun Rewards cardholders enjoy instant savings: 10% (Gold); 15% (Platinum); 20% (Black).
For group bookings of 10 or more, please contact the theatre directly on 011 248 5000.
Group Bookings of 50 seats or more qualify for a 15% discount if booked directly with The Lyric Theatre Box Office on 011 248 5000.
For these various discounts, contact the Gold Reef City Box Office for more information on 011 248 5000 or email goldreef.boxoffice@tsogosun.com
Gone Too Soon is being staged in loving memory of two South African legends Matthew Stewardson and Gugu Zulu – both close friends of Collett Dawson and whose untimely deaths inspired the concept of the show.
* Gone too Soon is being staged with the blessing of the Stewardson and Zulu families
Gone Too Soon is proudly produced by The CoLab Network in association with the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra.
Lighting by Hauser Lighting Design, visual content by Fix Post Production, staging by Gemma Marinus and videography by Dream Canvas Productions.
For interviews and image requests, please contact Collett Dawson of The CoLab Network on collett@thecolabnetwork.com
ENDS.
For media information, please contact:
COLLETT DAWSON
082 653 1338
TWITTER HANDLE:
@colabnetwork
@GoldReefCitySA
HASHTAG:
#GoneTooSoonSA
ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR EDITORS: Artist Biographies
TIMOTHY MOLOI
Born and raised in Soweto, Timothy Moloi has led a busy performance schedule since completing his studies at Ohio Wesleyan University in the USA.
His critically-acclaimed debut album Love That Music was nominated for two SAMA Awards and his videos on YouTube have received more than 500,000 views.
Television performances have included the South African Music Awards, Miss South Africa and the Naledi Awards.
Stage productions include Always & Forever – A Tribute to Luther Vandross, Motown Gold, Coming Home, Afrika in Afrikaans, Classics is Groot and two of Janice Honeyman’s festive season pantomimes, Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty to name just a few.
He performed at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, SA Golf Open, Cricket SA Season Launch, SA Rugby Awards and for
the 2012 SA Olympic squad. Timothy has sung the SA National Anthem for the Springboks and La Marseillaise for the French Rugby Team. In
2017 he performed the National Anthem at the Currie Cup Final.
He has performed in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg as part of the SA-Russia Cultural Exchange. Other recent performances include Stellenbosch University’s Centenary Concert, the Hermanus FynArts Festival and at Woordfees with Judith Sephuma and Gloria Bosman, which won a 2018 Fiesta Award. He also performed at the opening of the new Sun Arena.
In December 2017, Timothy won the first Great South African Bake Off
Celebrity Festive Special.
Twitter : @TimothyMoloi / Istagram : timothymoloi
JOSEPH CLARK
Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, Joseph Clark left his ballet career in New York and Salt Lake City when brought to South Africa by where he won immediate acclaim for the leading roles in Swan Lake, Papillion, Romeo & Juliet and Witchboy. He soon moved to musical theatre, blowing audiences away in shows like Buddy Holly – The Buddy Holly Story, Queen at The Opera, West Side Story and others.
He is one of South Africa’s leading performers with over 40 years of experience as a professional singer/actor/ballet dancer, winning numerous awards for all 3 genres.
He has appeared as a lead soloist with all the Symphony Orchestras in South Africa as well as with orchestras in Europe and the USA. He has been the soloist for North Netherland Orchestra (NNO) since 2009.
Highlights include the honour to sing for former President Nelson Mandela’s 85th Birthday Celebration and singing in a packed Gelredome stadium in The Netherlands to an audience of over 30,000 people.
Currently, Joseph is touring South Africa and Europe with his internationally acclaimed production of Joseph Clark – The Music Of QUEEN.
He is known as a guest artist on Noot vir Noot, Classics is Groot and Strictly Come Dancing and has featured in numerous television and cinema commercials in South Africa, the USA, Israel and China.
When not touring he is in high demand as a corporate entertainer and as a voice-artist, talking and singing, for radio & television.
Twitter : @JosephClarkSA / Instagram : josephkarlclark
MARIECHAN
Mariechan, originally from Cape Town, became known for her vocal ability during her 10 year career with the hugely successful Jamali. As the engine for Jamali’s vocal strength, her effortless vocal ability, with her natural feminine character is her signature style.
Mariechan’s singular focus and dream of earning a living as an artist came to fruition as the winning girl group in Popstars in 2004. In the last 10 years, it became clear that there was a market for South African talent in the R&B/Pop and Soul industry. Currently a solo artist, she launched her first single ‘Let Me Live My Life’ in 2014 which took South Africa by storm and received airtime on radio stations, nationally!
Mariechan’s versatility & ability to work in any music genre, got her working & collaborating with some of SA’s biggest artists and Dj’s. She is currently working on her first solo project & ready to share a side she rarely had a chance to show in her career…sexy, fun, vulnerable and uninhibited.
Shekhinah and Mariechan are currently burning up the airwaves with their popular hit “Different”.
Her new single, Missed Calls is the first single to her upcoming EP, titled, Cherry Blossom and is currently enjoying airplay across the country and on various digital platforms.
Twitter : @MariechanL / Instagram : mariechl
JOHANNESBURG YOUTH ORCHESTRA
The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC) is Gauteng’s premier orchestral training organisation. Through giving young people opportunities to learn, create and participate in music making, the JYOC builds people’s internal capacity to reach their potential. Their mission is to:
- DEVELOP YOUTH THROUGH MUSIC – social, personal and artistic growth
- BUILD COMMUNITIES – through joint participation in music initiatives
- REDRESS INEQUITIES – responding to musical and educational needs by
- PROVIDE ACCESS to music education and training for youth from all communities
Their programmes comprise instrumental training in Soweto and Johannesburg as well as opportunities for children to be integrated into one of 12 graded orchestras and ensembles. The JYOC also mentors and trains student teachers, offering music skills development and employment for young musicians. This is achieved through three programmes run within the company and is currently involving over 500 young musicians.
The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, conducted by Eddie Clayton, is made up of 45 young musicians who deliver high quality performances since their inception 20 years ago and continues to excel. The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra has risen to extraordinary heights and continues to amaze all who hear them.
The JYOC has launched a crowdfunding initiative to become self-sustainable so they can continue to serve their communities and youth through the medium of music.
Visit their website for more information: www.orchestracompany.org.za
Facebook : www.facebook.com/jyocsa / Instagram : jyocsa
EDDIE CLAYTON
Eddie’s illustrious musical career stretches over more than two decades. He is best known in the music industry as a conductor, arranger and musical director. His arrangements and compositions can be found in all the major orchestras and symphonic windbands in South Africa. He has conducted most of the major orchestras and opera companies throughout South Africa, including amongst others; The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, The Johannesburg Music Initiative Orchestra, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Freestate Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of South Africa as well as the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra. He conducted the Black Tie Ensemble as well as various operas with Gauteng Opera and has most recently conducted La Bohemè in 2017 at the Jo’burg Theatre. He will also be conducting the “Nutcracker Ballet” later this year with the JPO and Jo’burg Ballet Company.
He has conducted and musically directed numerous headline shows such as The Sound of Music; My Fair Lady; The King and I (a show in which he was commissioned by Rodgers and Hammerstein to downsize the musical score, which is still being utilized internationally); Fiddler on the Roof; Shaka Zulu; Jock of the Bushveld; Tree Aan (Naledi Award for Best Musical Director); Lied van my Hart; Ons Vir Jou; Jesus, die Musielblyspel; Die Skepping Oratorium. He is also the principal Musical Director and Conductor of the SA Tattoo. He conducted the Huisgenoot Skouspel in 2014 and 2015 as well as Classics is Groot in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He often works in cross-over genres, such as composing the soundtrack for an international animation film and most recently scoring for, and conducting shows with Just Jinjer, Prime Circle and Tailor. He was involved in writing orchestrations for both Zita Pretorius as well as Corlea’s new albums which are due for release in 2018.
Despite working on such high level platforms, Eddie always finds his greatest solace in working with the youth of South Africa as an educator and has been, amongst others, the principal conductor of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra for the past six years. “The youth truly are the future, and through music we are able to break down walls and build relationships across all boundaries”.