Tony Bird (singer-songwriter)

Tony Bird was a folk rock singer-songwriter who was born and grew up in Nyasaland (now Malawi) in Southern Africa.[1] He is known for his Dylanesque vocals and for his songs describing life in colonial Nyasaland from a progressive anti-colonial point of view.

Bird made his first solo performances at the Space Theatre in Cape Town, where his unique African style was reviewed favorably by press and promoters. He recorded two albums in the 1970s. His comeback CD Sorry Africa, released in 1990 on Rounder Records in the USA and Mountain Records in Europe and Africa, included the hit song "Mango Time", which describes the happiness of the mangoes being ripe, once a year.

He toured with Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the 1980s, who recorded his song "Go Willie Go". He lived in New York City, U.S.[2]

Bird died 17 April 2019 following a battle with cancer. [3]

References
  1. Robert Cochrane, "A Rarely Heard Bird", CultureCatch, 18 December 2007.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2011-01-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Music News Digest, April 24, 2019".
  • The African Activist Archive Project website includes video of the television show South Africa Now - Show #N108, September 20, 1989, produced by Globalvision that includes a cultural segment with an interview of and performances by Tony Bird.
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