Coming soon ~ Yoga is Putumayo’s first CD release featuring songs selected to accompany yoga practice and serve as a relaxing soundtrack for daily life.

Visit our e-card to hear song samples and for a free download from the album!

Also, don’t miss performances from Yoga featured artists Krishna Das, Wah!, Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, Gaura Vani, Karnamrita Dasi, Geoffrey Gordon and Shantala at Bhakti Fest, September 9-12 in Joshua Tree, CA. View the complete performance schedule here.

Putumayo celebrates the release of the new album Tribute to a Reggae Legend, a global celebration of the music of Bob Marley, with the launch of an intimate 4-week interview series starring Reuben Koroma of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Playing for Change founder Mark Johnson, Rebelution’s Marley D. Williams and Canadian songstress Julie Crochetière, who reflect on the universality of Bob Marley’s music, his lasting influence on them as artists and his global impact.

Throughout the 1990s, the West African country of Sierra Leone was wracked with a bloody, horrifying war that forced millions to flee their homes.  The musicians that would eventually form Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars are all originally from Freetown, but were forced to leave the capital city at various times after violent rebel attacks.  Reuben Koroma, founder of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, explores the connection between Bob Marley and the All Stars as cultural ambassadors and representatives for those without a voice.

Listen to the All Stars’ amazing, African-infused rendition of “No Woman, No Cry,” recorded exclusively for Tribute to a Reggae Legend.

To kick off the interview series, we’re giving away a 3-CD set that includes Putumayo’s Tribute to a Reggae Legend and African Reggae CDs and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars new CD Rise and Shine, now available from Cumbancha. Leave a comment (on our blog or our Facebook page) telling us why you love Bob Marley. We’ll select a winner at random next Tuesday, August 10^th!

Next: Playing for Change founder Mark Johnson shares stories from the road about Marley’s global impact and discusses PFC’s multi-artist tribute version of “One Love“.

Bob Marley would have been 65 in 2010, and in celebration, Putumayo World Music is releasing Tribute to a Reggae Legend , a multi-genre album featuring artists from around the world performing many of his best loved songs. The collection is the first tribute album Putumayo has produced and its first with five exclusive, original tracks.  Artists who recorded exclusive songs for the album include Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Freshlyground, Rebelution, Caracol, and Rocky Dawuni. For more information please view our e-card below!

View the Tribute to a Reggae Legend e-card!

Putumayo Kids pays tribute to the early history of rock ‘n’ roll with their newest CD, Rock & Roll Playground. Kids of all ages can shake, rattle and roll to music by a stellar group of established and up-and-coming artists such as Dan Zanes, Peter Himmelman, Brady Rymer, and many more.

View the e-card and download the FREE song “The Starfish Stomp” by StarFish!

Enter the Air Guitar Video Contest for the chance to win a rockin’ concert at home with StarFish bandleader StingRay! Second and third place winners will receive a prize package of five Putumayo Kids CDs.

Grand Prize: An in-home concert with Starfish

lead singer StingRay and 5 Putumayo CDs!

Enter Online Now!

*Contest open to entrants in the 48 continental United States and Washington, DC.

South Africa has always been an important hub for musicians. Artists like the late Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masakela and Johnny Clegg, among others, travelled around the world presenting South African music and telling the story of the South African struggle for democracy and equality. The country´s contemporary music reflects diverse influences. Township jive, mbaqanga, marabi, and kwaito, among other genres, are examples of South African styles that arose from the blending of South African tribal traditions, jazz, rock and hip-hop.

We recently spoke with the legendary Soweto Gospel Choir and Masauko Chipembere of the South Africa-founded musical duo Blk Sonshine, both featured on our new South Africa CD, to get a better sense of how the eclectic blend of cultures, styles and influences in South African music has impacted the contemporary sound emerging from this historical country.

1. For those who don’t know, can you explain how the group came into existence?

Soweto Gospel Choir:
“The Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in 2002 by Beverly Bryer and the late David Mulovhedzi to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music. The choir draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. The choir is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world.”

Blk Sonshine (Masauko Chipembere):
“We met in Jo’burg in the later part of the 90s. I was visiting Africa for the first time as a child of exile. My family is from Malawi. I was born in LA. After staying in Malawi a while, I heard that all the music went down in South Africa, so I got on a bus and traveled through Zimbabwe and Mozambique to South Africa. There I met Neo Muyanga at an open mic called “Monday Blues” and we started jamming together. Our music is blend of all the music available on the continent and in the Diaspora. It is an attempt to remember all the pieces of Africa that have been spread around the world through the processes of migration, enslavement, colonialism and exile. But there is an optimism about the project; we use what is best from the past to create the future we intend to see through music. Our new album is called Good Life because that is what we are hoping to create for all in Africa.”

2. Contemporary South African music reflects, among many others, the influences of indigenous tribal cultures (e.g. Zulu isicathamiya and harmonic mbaqanga), European cultures, American music (jazz, hip-hop, R&B, rock) and more.  How do these influences affect your music?

Soweto Gospel Choir:
“We spend most of the time performing internationally, and we have learned to accommodate other musical genres to impress our different audiences, as well as to broaden our own musical skills, but we make sure that we preserve our African sound, leaving room for learning in order to move on with the times.”

Blk Sonshine:
“I don’t view Africa in terms of tribes. I deal with Africa in terms of people. So, for me, Zulu is not the name of a tribe, it is the name of a people with a culture. All of the people on this planet have roots in Africa; this means that all the music on this planet spreads out from there and becomes individuated through the evolution of various cultures. For me jazz, blues, rock and R&B are from Africa just like kwela and mbaqanga. They are musical forms created by Africans addressing their various conditions in all parts of the world. But, the key is that the people making the music are African, so the forms are African. I see no borders when it comes to music. All of these forms are parts of my musical being.”

3. Do you think there is a musical thread or signature sound that is unique to South African music and can be heard when listening to the country’s contemporary music?

Soweto Gospel Choir:
“Yes, we have our own signature which is filled with African drums, strong bass voices in the background supported by mbaqanga guitar sounds. This is the kind of sound which gives identity when South African music is played or performed.”

Blk Sonshine:
“There are certain chord progressions in music that are rooted in Southern Africa. You hear the same progression in the kwela, mbaqanga, Afro-jazz, mbira, marrabenta, jive and jit. There are others that you hear in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Ngoni and Sotho music. You can hear the same chords in “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” [the national anthem of South Africa] and “Mannenburg” by Abdullah Ibrahim. These forms are the equivalent of the 12 bar blues in America. Everyone plays the same chords but puts various beats, melodies and stories together with them. Each song answers the other in an attempt to display new moods that fit the culture of the day.  Most people reading this know that Southern African sound. I wont give it away for them by spelling in out technically though…We may go from Afro-jazz to hip-hop in this era, but the chords stay the same because they do certain things to the brain.”

4. Soweto Gospel Choir has collected over $1.2 million for charities around the world. How important is it to use your music as a vehicle for charities and those who are less fortunate?

Soweto Gospel Choir:
“We feel that it is very important for us to look after those who are in need, as we have the privilege to travel around the world performing our music for different people. Our music has brought us closer to a lot of people who are willing to help. We have our charity fund called Nkosi’s Haven Vukani and we always request support from our audience, who are always willing to donate. We have been able to give back to our communities by reaching out to places where there is no assistance, and through the response to our music, we are able to enrich [people's] lives and give them both physical and spiritual support.”

5. South Africa has been largely defined throughout the 20th century for its struggle against the unjust system of apartheid.  How important was the music of South Africa as a means to help endure and overcome apartheid?

Soweto Gospel Choir:
“Music played an imported role during the struggle against apartheid. It motivated people to keep fighting for their freedom [and] helped to put down apartheid, and South Africans are known to use music as a tool to overcome their problems.”

Blk Sonshine:
“South African musicians were involved in the struggle for Africa, not just against apartheid. [These musicians] became symbols of freedom to all of us. Notice that Miriam Makeba is not Mama South Africa, she is Mama Africa. Music is the greatest African form of communication; we come from a people who used drums to speak to God and bring rain from the sky. Music is not only a means of struggle, it is often the overt personification of the African conception of self in relation to the universe. It is the fact of who we are as Africans.”

6. Putumayo World Music was established to introduce people to other cultures through music.  How does Putumayo’s philosophy of exposing people to new cultures, sounds and ideas relate to your own music?

Soweto Gospel Choir:
“It has always been our goal to make sure that we connect with different cultures through music and Putumayo’s philosophy of exposing people to new cultures is very much in line with our own. We are very excited and support this idea.”

Blk Sonshine:
“Putumayo does the research and takes the time to know the music of a region. [Music] sees no boundaries between people and cultures. We are all human beings and we are more alike than we are different. Putumayo shows this by exposing music from all over the world and creating a thread between the cultures. That is exactly what [Blk Sonshine is] attempting to do with music. [We] are trying to show all the different people that there is actually only one people.”

7. In a week, South Africa will host the first World Cup ever to be held on African soil. What significance would you say this occasion holds for many South Africans?  Is the Soweto Gospel Choir participating in festivities during the Cup?

Soweto Gospel Choir:
“South Africa is already on the world map because of our past political situation and by hosting the 2010 World Cup; people will get an opportunity to witness the spirit of unity which our people have regardless of their background. This event is going to unite us even more, and the fact that we are the first African country to host the soccer World Cup makes us feel special and proud. This event is providing income opportunities to our people and we believe that it will make a difference in our lives. Our choir will be performing on the 10th of June during the FIFA Kick-Off concert. We are sharing the stage with many artists and we are excited to be part of such a unifying event.”

Putumayo’s newest CD, South Africa, is a celebration of the nation’s musical diversity, from Afro-jazz and township jive to mbaqanga and Afropop. With the soccer World Cup taking place for the first time on African soil from June 11 to July 11, international attention will be focused on South Africa, “The Rainbow Nation,” and its postapartheid status as a democracy and economic powerhouse.  The CD features songs from Miriam Makeba, Soweto Gospel Choir, Soul Brothers, and many more!

South Africa features a recipe by chef Amos Dlamini of the acclaimed Moyo group of restaurants. He serves up a dish representing the cultural melting pot that is South Africa.

A portion of Putumayo’s proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to Artists for a New South Africa, a non-profit organization working in South Africa to combat HIV/AIDS and advance human rights.

View the South Africa e-card now!

“Designed to help parents and caregivers of all achievements and backgrounds make informed decisions about which new products are right for their children, the Parents’ Choice Awards is the nation’s oldest nonprofit program created to recognize quality children’s media. The Parents’ Choice Awards program honors the best material for children: books, toys, music and storytelling, magazines, software, videogames, television and websites.”

~ To read more about Jazz Playground winning the Spring 2010 Parents’ Choice GOLD award click here.

Last chance to Choose from 35 classic Putumayo CDs
from our online store for only $10 each!

Buy ANY 8 CDs and choose one FREE
from our classic collection.

Putumayo remembers the innovative Cuban singer Graciela Peréz-Gutierrez, who passed away on Wednesday in Manhattan where she lived.  Thank you Graciela for the wonderful music.

“Graciela was a pioneer not just for records she made over 50 years ago. Bandleader and educator Bobby Sanabria dropped me a line reminding me that: “… if it wasn’t for Gracie you wouldn’t have Celia, La Lupe, Gloria Estefan, and J. Lo, Shakira, even Beyonce, etc, etc…. Gracie opened the door for ALL of them. It’s about time she received the recognition that she so richly deserved. Not only from the public, but from the industry as a whole.”

~ A Blog Supreme / NPR Jazz

Listen to the clip below for one of Graciela’s most memorable recordings, Machito’s “Si Si No No”.