Moss Mogale

Moss Mogale grew-up during the days of Marabi and Kwela music, dominated by the penny whistle wizards of the early sixties. He was also privileged to have come from a family and an environment that was rich with indigenous multicultural traditional music.

The late Frans Mothoka Maake, popularly known as “Matascar” inspired Moss, and the late Charlie Thobejane, two of the most accomplished Marabi guitarists and penny whistle musicians of the time. Geoff Mphakathi who exposed him to a broader spectrum of other practitioners of the art form such as Wes Montgomery and Lesley Spann, just to mention a few. These artists proved to be an enormous inspiration to him. Moss is basically self-taught. His technical development was achieved with tremendous speed, due to his immense love for music and the instrument.

Amongst musicians/ groups he played with include Four sounds plus three, Victor Ntoni, Ernest Mothle, Kippie Moeketsi, Duke Makasi, Barney Rachabane, Stompie Manana, Allan Kwela, Lefifi Tladi and Bheki Mseleku, just to name a few. He took Herb Ellis’ position in Mamelodi Jazz Festival on the 1st February 1975 and played alongside Herb’s rhythm section.