Jazz singer-songwriter Gloria Bosman has died at the age of 50 after a brief illness. A heartbroken source confirmed the news to the Sunday World on Tuesday.
Jazz legend Sipho Hotstix also confirmed the news on his social media, where he paid tribute to the singer.
Born in Mofolo and raised in Pimville, Soweto, Gloria began her career in church choir. In 1993, a performance at the Market Theater earned her a scholarship to study opera at the Pretoria Institute of Technology. Gloria has shared the stage with too many music superstars (local and international) to list here but include: Sibongile Khumalo, Moses Molelekwa, Tananas, Concord Nkabinde, Sipho Mabuse, Vusi Mahlasela, Sipho Gumede, Oliver Mtukudzi, Victor Masondo With Hugh Macequeira…
She has performed in London and Amsterdam and has performed in theaters and festivals in Australia, Angola, France, Finland, Nigeria, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and in South America (Chile, Argentina, Peru and Venezuela) )concert tour.
She also performed successfully in Algeria as part of the PAN African Festival. In 2010, she participated in a theater production titled African Songbook, performed at Arts Cape, Cape Town. It was also part of the July 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China. In 2011/12 she worked in the theater, starring in Porgy and Bess and the Mandela Trilogy. She toured the UK with this production and was nominated for a Naledi Award.
On the theater stage, she appeared with John Carney in Joy, Milestones and The Lion and the Lamb. On the small screen, she appeared as an actress in Soul City and Muvhango.
In 2011 and 2013, she performed Migration Song with Hugh Masekeira at the Market Theater and Joburg Theatre. She recently collaborated with Lizz Wright and Kurt Elling on the standard Joy of Jazz. She also appeared in an extravaganza called “The King’s Daughter.”
Boseman was announced a month ago as the newest member of the Southern African Music Rights Organization (Samro) board.
Born in Soweto, Boseman is a jazz, African, rock and gospel singer. She is also an accomplished producer, composer and presenter.
Boseman has shared the stage with music legends such as Hugh Masekela, Sibangir Kumalo, Moshe Molekewa, Thananas and Seave Mabus. All five of her albums have been huge successes: her debut, Tranquility, was awarded Best New Artist, as well as nominations for Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Best Female Album. Artist of SAMA 2001.
Her second album The Many Faces Of Gloria Bosman and
Some of South Africa’s finest musicians and was nominated for Best South African Artist and Most Promising Female Artist at the prestigious KORA Awards 2001, as well as a SAMA nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
