The Dukes Combo –
Founder of the band Dee Sharma, extreme right, with, from left, Tyrell
Subramoney (bass), Gabriel Joseph (band leader, trumpet), Don John (guitar),
Selwyn Appalsamy (drums) and Anthony Joseph (band manager, keyboards). In front
is Ashleigh Joseph (vocals)
Durban dance music admirers will be blown away at the end of
this month when a mega tribute performance is hosted to honour the living
legend of musical harmony, Dee Sharma, for his contribution to the local
entertainment scene.
The Dukes Combo, the band Dee founded almost six decades
ago, will headline the dance music spectacular which has been aptly titled Thank You For The Music, Dee.
On the evening of June 27 at the DLI Hall in Durban, homage
will be paid to Dee for keeping alive the tradition of ballroom music through
the Dukes Combo, one of South Africa’s most popular and longest-running working
bands. The group has played at various venues such as the Ocean Terminal,
Imperial Hotel, Pelican Hotel, Isipingo Island Hotel, Starlite Hotel, Greencat
Restaurant, Himalaya Hotel, Asoka Hotel, Butterworth Hotel, Athlone Hotel and
Belgica Hotel. Presently the band is resident at the Blue Lagoon Conference
Centre in Durban.
Extremely popular across the board with a loyal following,
the Dukes’ vast repertoire caters for every taste in music. However, the band’s
roots lie firmly in the Latin American ballroom tradition and it is in this
vein that they will portray old standards as well as current chart influenced
songs.
Anthony Joseph, manager of the Dukes Combo, said it was
decided to mark the admiration and respect of all music-loving people for Dee’s
contribution over many decades by saying “thank you” to him in the best way
they know - on the dance floor with hip-swinging music.
“How better to show our appreciation to an icon of the South
African ballroom music scene than to do so at a gala dance event where fans of
Dee and the Dukes Combo can gather in an atmosphere of music and merriment to
celebrate the talented saxophonist,” Joseph explains. “Dee is not actively
playing nowadays as he is recovering from back surgery caused by decades of
carrying the heavy instrument. However, we cannot forget that it is because of
the solid foundation laid by music stalwarts such as him that the dance music
scene is still flourishing today.” Joseph added that Dee would play some of his
favourite melodies on June 27.
Dee Sharma says: “I will be watching the band from the
sidelines. Having spent the better part of my life with the band, it will not
be easy to cut off completely. However, I will now concentrate on researching
Indian classical and popular music and would also like to play Indian tunes on
the saxophone.”
The DLI dance event will see 500 ticketholders treated to
nearly 60 years of nostalgia as they are serenaded on a trip down memory lane
by the Dukes Combo and supporting group Backline.
Thank You For The
Music, Dee has one performance on June 27, 2015, at the DLI Hall. Tickets R175
available from Computicket and Shoprite Checkers. Patrons may bring their own
snacks and drinks.
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