Opus Africa: A collection of African Style Music by Charles Segal
Charles Segal is a Pianist, Composer, Teacher, Publisher, whose volume of work spans a myriad of styles and cultures, characteristic of his life experiences.
Charles spent most of his life in South Africa, where his mother, Riva, a talented mandolin-player, introduced him to music. As a child in the northern province of the Transvaal, Charles became fascinated by the African drum-beats of the indigenous people who lived near his family farm. These sound became part of his everyday life. Charles trained in classical piano performance, bus his teenage heart was captured by American Jazz music and he became an accomplished jazz pianist with a talent for improvisation. Charles became a popular South African celebrity pianist and composer who made regular radio and TV appearances. His songs were hits in Africa, the USA, and Europe. But his love for African music never left him. He worked with the indigenous people and helped them record their traditional songs on an album, ?Songs of Africa?, which is available on CD.
Charles Segal?s creative talents are evident in his over 1,000 compositions, many of which have a African flavor. He was first pianist to record African music for piano and orchestra. Some of his hits include ?Africa?, ?Jungle Rock ?n Roll?, ?Kwela? and ?African Fantasy?. Charles has won many awards for his songs, including the SARI Award (the USA Grammy) for Song of the Year. His music has become part of the traditional culture of South Africa. Msinga Hide is the theme song for Radio South Africa overseas broadcasts.
Charles is the featured artist on over 200 albums spanning Classical, Jazz, Contemporary, African, Pop, New Age music, A new Relaxing Piano Series and more. Opus Africa is a tribute to Charles Segal?s melding of the sounds of his youth with the more sophisticated experience of his extensive musical education.
1. African Kwela
2. Botswana
3. Msinga Hide
4. Buya
5. In Tzaneen
6. Opus Africa
7. Thanda Mina
8. Sabona
9. Zululand
10. African Fantasy