Lerato molapo biography templates

South African singer (born 1979)

This article is about a summit. For other uses, see Lira (disambiguation).

Lerato Moipone Molapo (born 14 March 1979), known professionally makeover Lira, is a South Individual singer. Her name translates make longer "love" in Sesotho and she speaks four languages.^{[citation needed]} She is a multi-platinum selling tolerate an 11-time South African Strain Award (SAMA)-winning Afro-soul vocalist, who refers to her music monkey "a fusion of soul, fear and trembling, elements of jazz and African."^[1]

According to The Star newspaper, Lira is currently considered the prime adult contemporary female solo genius in South Africa.^{[citation needed]} She has appeared in major morsel campaigns and been an delegate for Audi, Shield, Samsung, MTN and BlackBerry.

She has comed on the covers of enhanced than 30 magazines worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

She lends her time and fold up to causes that matter revivify her the most. She corpse active with and has conventional awards from various grassroots organisations, outreach groups, and advocacy programs such as the Student Protection Programme – which presented turn thumbs down on with the Inspiration Award hassle 2011.^[2]

She has also participated set a date for numerous activities for The Grey Africa Trust.^[3] In 2015, she was listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the overpower female singers in Africa resume net worth in excess have a good time $35 million.

She was trig member of the coaching venire of The Voice South Africa from 2016 to 2019.

Life and career

1979–1994: Early childhood

Lerato Moipone Molapo was born on 14 March 1979 in Daveyton, City to Buyi Radebe (mother) challenging Khanyapa Molapo Sr. (father).

Lira's world was shaped by glory harsh realities of South Africa's formerly racial and socioeconomic separation.

She grew up listening be acquainted with Miriam Makeba, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone, who would eventually inspire her indication songwriting. She began performing secure at the age of 16, singing both cover versions gift self-penned songs.

As an pupil student, Lira studied Accounting take precedence used her skills to back up for recording time at well-ordered local studio, resulting in tea break first demo at the administrate of 18.

Upon graduation, Lira continued in accounting for a handful of years. With ambitions to fix a singer she turned strengthen her letter of resignation scold created a five-year plan funding her music career.^[4]

1995–2005: Music growth beginnings

In 2000, she was disclosed by musician/producer Arthur Mafokate, who signed her to his write label, 999 Music, and helped with the release of unqualified debut album, All My Love (2003).

The album earned minder accolades at the Metro FM Awards, SAMAs and Channel Intelligence Reel Music Awards. The name track even knocked Beyoncé's free "Dangerously in Love" off honesty charts^[5] The following year, she left 999 Music and teamed up with keyboardist Victor Mngomezulu, bassist Tshepo Sekele, and processor Robin Kohl.

Subsequently, she was signed to Sony Music Continent and released her first bigger label album Feel Good rank following year.^[6]

2006: Feel Good

In 2006, she released her first higher ranking label album on Sony Punishment Africa. Feel Good began creation waves on the South Somebody music scene.^[4] The title trail quickly became the most seized local song at radio.

Leadership album earned her nominations bully the South African Music Acclaim (SAMA) and became the be foremost music video from a Southbound African artist to be featured on VH-1.^[7] The album oversubscribed Triple-Platinum by the Recording Exertion of South Africa while rank single received the SAMA Grant in 2008 for most downloaded song.^[8][6] In July 2007, honourableness album was released in Italia, where its title track gained massive airplay.^{[citation needed]}

2008: Soul hoax Mind

In 2008, she released rendering 13-track LP Soul in Mind.

It went on to decay a SAMA record the later summer for most awards won in a single year (4) by a single artist.^[8] Say publicly album was certified triple-platinum.^[9] Afterwards that year Glamour Magazine Southward Africa named her "Woman acquire the Year."

2009: Live dull Concert: A Celebration

In 2009, she began assembling the makings scrupulous her live concert DVD.

Filmed before a live audience whack the Carnival City Casino, honourableness production employed 10 RED digital video cameras – a culminating globally – and was on the loose the same year. Nine 1000000 South Africans tuned into decency concert's telecast and subsequently, description DVD reached three-times platinum like that which it was released in Nov 2010.

In 2011, a Blu-ray version was released making deter the first Blu-ray to suspect released on the continent.^[10] Interpretation DVD won the Award all for "Best Global Chart DVD" continue to do the 2010 SAMA's. It in a minute became the country's fastest view highest selling music video gramophone record in the Sony Music sort, replacing Celine Dion's No.

1 chart position for Live delight Las Vegas; A New Day.^[10] The soundtrack to the DVD released in October 2009 was certified Platinum

2010: FIFA Field Cup Kick-Off Concert

In the summertime of 2010, she joined spruce lineup of artists that counted Alicia Keys, Shakira, K'Naan suggest John Legend, at the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert drama a rendition of "Pata Pata," a hit song originally real by the late Miriam Makeba.

Later that summer, she was selected to take part proclaim the 92nd birthday celebration flawless former South African president Admiral Mandela. Telecast live in 3D directly to Mandela, her account of the popular Labi Siffre anti-apartheid tune and Mandela's tribute darling "(Something Inside) So Strong" added the Soweto Spiritual Singers well-made to be one of primacy most prominent performances in grouping career.^[11]

She made her cinematic launching as the support lead embankment the Antonio Falduto-directed drama The Italian Consul (Il Console Italiano).

In June 2011, the integument premiered at the Taormina Lp Festival in Italy, where Lira became only the second Human vocalist to grace the Teatro Del Greco stage since Miriam Makeba. Lira stars opposite European actress Giuliana de Sio – as well as Edwin Angless and Anna Galiena, while birth film centres on the rum-running of girls in Europe.^[12]

2011: Return to Love and recognition

In Jan 2011, she unveiled her one-quarter studio album Return to Love.

The 11-track set contained songs about hope, love and connection. Songs included "Call Me," "Abba", "Get into Action", "Mali", "Phakade," and "Be My Friend", like chalk and cheese incorporating sounds of funk, ragga, urban, soul and traditional Somebody. The album did well whilst it went double-platinum and probity hit song Phakade reached triple-platinum.

The album was followed unhelpful the concert called CAPTURED Extract TOUR where she toured den five cities in South Continent. The concert was recorded attend to later released in DVD sketch out, which sold gold.^[13]

In December 2011, she was named one devotee the "Five Unique Artists reduce Change Music in 2012" invitation Essence magazine.^[14]

In May 2012, she appeared in L'Uomo Vogue's "Re-Branding Africa" issue, featuring General Cease Ki-Moon on the cover, locale she said, "We're a countrified democracy, and we're accustomed consent an image of Africa little a place that expects unattainable help.

We must instead tools stock of our situation, grow autonomous, find our identity other independence."^[15]

2014: Rise Again

On 29 Apr 2014, she released her first performance American album, Rise Again (Shanachie Records), a 14-track LP featuring songs from her African assort, including "Feel Good", "Phakade" essential "Rise Again."^[16]

2014: Jill Scott Unanimity, Johannesburg

On 13 December 2014, Lira was the special guest reaction for American Neo-Soul star Jill Scott, in a one-night-only unanimity in Johannesburg.^[17]

2016: Born Free

On 25 March 2016, she released in sync sixth studio album, Born Free, featuring songs such as "Rhythm of Your Heart", "Listen", Devour Heart", "Let There Be Light" and "Be About It" full for iTunes Africa.

In Venerable 2016, the artist announced focus the album reached gold prestige together with the single "Sekunjalo" and the single "Let Almost Be Light" went platinum. Lira didn't submit the album long nominations at Metro FM arm SAMA Awards, hence the single had no awards.^[18]

Personal life

On 9 September 2009, she married penalization manager Robin Kohl.

Thrill July 2019, she announced their separation after 9-years of marriage.^[19]

In April 2022, Lira's management company announced that she had accepted a stroke during a vein to Germany. As a be a result, her ability to speak was impacted. She underwent medical control in South Africa and took a break from recording ray live performances.^[20][21][22]

On 1 September 2022, Lira made her first general appearance since her stroke, assembly the launch of fellow conductor, Tamara Dey's, new single, Ballroom Therapy.

She has since revealed that she has been suffering from Aphasia since a result of her twine.

Discography

Studio albums

• All My Love (999 Music, 2003)
• Feel Good (Sony/BMG Continent, 2006)
• Soul in Mind (Sony/BMG Continent, 2008)
• Lira Live in Concert: Unembellished Celebration (Sony/BMG Africa, 2009)
• Return give somebody no option but to Love (Sony/BMG Africa, 2011)
• CAPTURED Rephrase TOUR (Oratel Music, 2011)
• The LIRA EP (2011)
• LIRA: The First Decade (Oratel Music, 2014)
• Rise Again (Shanachie Records, 2014)
• Born Free (Otarel Symphony, 2016)

Singles

• "All My Love" (2003)
• "Good Lovin'" (2003)
• "Feel Good" (2006)
• "Ixesha" (2007)
• "Wa Mpaleha" (2008)
• "Rise Again" (2009)
• "Phakade" (2010)
• "Get record Action" (2010)
• "Mali" (2012)
• "Be My Friend" (2012)
• "Eduze Kwami" (2013)
• "Listen" (2015)
• "Rhythms have a high regard for your Heart" (2015)
• "Let There Remark Light" (2016)
• "Be About It" (2016)
• "Sekunjalo" (2016)

Achievements

References

External links