African Queen of Jazz

Living in Montreal since 1977, Lorraine Klaasen was born in Alberton to South African jazz singer, Thandi. Today Lorraine is the African Queen of Jazz. She started off with the pata pata and click songs of South Africa. By her teens she was touring Europe as part of a 30-member troupe of singers and dancers, performing traditional African material. In 1977, she and her then-husband settled in Montreal while he continued his studies. Not knowing anyone in Canada, she temporarily abandoned her performing career. Two years after settling in Montreal and starting a family, she returned to the stage. By 1986, she was presenting a show called African Broadway, with her band, Soweto Groove. Lorraine sings in several languages including French, Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Greek and Hebrew.