Audrey Motaung was born in the Northern Province of South Africa, near Pietersburg, She grew up in a rural environment, going to a school where her father taught, and singing in the local church and school choirs.

But the city of Johannesburg beckoned to a young lady who wanted to sing for her living. A lucky break as back-up singer and percussionist in one of South Africas top rock groups, Jo'Burg Hawk, got her on stage, and later on tour beyond the borders of her homeland.

There was very little place back home for an aspirant singer at the height of the Apartheid in the late 70's, so she decided to take her chances in London. There she began to explore her love for jazz and blues. A work opportunity took her to Germany and there she settled down. Audrey took a day job which meant that her singing career had to take a back seat. She performed only occasionally.

Her recording career began with the release of African Sun, which in turn led to concert engagements, allowing her to go professional again. Mountain Records acquired the rights to this album in 1992. As the momentum of her singing career picked up, she began to travel to major European cities for gigs. She recorded her second album, Colours can´t clash, working with trend-setting acid-jazz producers, and this opened up a new fan base.

Throughout her life Audrey has always stayed in touch with her strong Christian faith, and she regularly performed gospel music in churches and at gospel shows. Her third album, Light, issued in 1995, is a gospel and blues record.

Audrey is not only a fine singer. She writes or co-writes most of her own music. Africa is a constant theme in her work and also in her activities in politics. She played an active role in the exiled ANC in her adopted home town of Hamburg, and she is a strong supporter of womenŒs rights.

Musically, Audrey is a bit of a chameleon. She is equally at home performing everything from rock to jazz and blues, and even more serious orchestral works.. She has taken parts in musical shows and opera. Both her live and recording work has been praised by critics, and she enjoys a relatively high media profile in Germany.

If there is one sad element of this success story it is that she is not well-known back at home in South Africa. We hope that this new CD, The Best of Audrey Motaung will re-introduce this talented woman to her former countrymen and women.


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