Leslie Klein-Smith

A South African Musical Institution

After 38 years in the South African Cabaret and Jazz music industry Leslie Klein-Smith has deservedly earned the title of Grand Performer.
He is an artist with the stage presence, voice and charisma of performers in the ilk of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis JR, all of whom were influences in his formative years.

Artists who can combine talent and choreography command recognition and respect, Leslie offers this same professionalism. His every move on stage once choreographed is now a natural flow of grace and delivery. His voice, now a sculpted tone of contra-alto leaning toward golden tenor evokes a warmth and pliability that turns great songs into personal invocations of love. He has honed the magical art of delivery to a stately perfection that sees the great standards of the American songbook interpreted in confident jazz renditions.

Critiques, Music Directors and colleagues throughout the years have been unanimous in their praise for the professionalism and finesse Leslie has brought to a varied career from cabaret and club dates to stage productions and television cameos.

Starting at the tender age of 13 in a part of Cape Town where abundant musical talent proliferated but few got the chance to shine. Leslie used District 6 as a stage to polish his confidence “ if you survived a District 6 audience nothing else could daunt”. Performing two set shows at the Woodstock Town Hall for R4 per show, half of which, he would give to his mom for food. The young Leslie started a career that would take him over time to the international stages of the Edinburgh Arts Festival in Scotland and the 1992 Miss World Contest where 600 million television viewers got to see him perform.

Leslie too can be proud of being an African performer; as a pop act in the 70’s he toured throughout Southern Africa performing in places like Angola, Botswana and Swaziland. For a dynamic young black performer his home country had limited career options but he remained resolute to making a success of his singing career. He claimed in a 1977 interview during the height of apartheid oppression, “the future lies in this country, I’m going to crack it right here”.
Visionary and brave, when immigration and a self claimed exile status might have given him the boost to the very top of the entertainment world.

Today Leslie’s commitment to his audience has been rewarded; he owns a following second to none, wherever he is booked the house full signs go up. Whenever he performs an emotion wells up in women and men alike, for it was performers like Leslie who they turned to for their romantic inspiration, he was their living jukebox.

He has never sounded better; he has never looked better, in fact he looks ten years younger today than he did ten years ago! A Zen like spiritual existence balanced with a healthy lifestyle preserves him for a 5th decade in music and a 3rd generation of South African music lovers to enjoy. Now he is able to choose his gigs and prefers to appear at laid-back “musically respectful” venues and perform jazz standards with his regular piano trio. Never one to let stardom go to his head, he continues to appear on a weekly basis around the entertainment scene of his beloved Cape Town. He continues to sing jazz with candid humility and love for the audience that has nurtured him.

BIOGRAPHY

1967 – 1974 Performed with various pop groups in South Africa,
Swaziland, Angola and Botswana.

1976 – 1980 Career included the cabaret stage, performing with various backing groups. Started his career in jazz.

Highlights:
Lead vocals with Tony Schilder Trio,
Lead vocals “MJ9” Big band and the nine piece Jazz Band and “No Strings Attached”, the twelve piece jazz funk band both under the Direction of acclaimed composer and arranger Darryl Andrews.

1985-1987 Played the Romantic leads in “Guys and Dolls” and “District Six” The Musical which he performed the lead at the Edinburgh Festival.

1992 Miss South Africa & Miss World Beauty pageants at Sun City.

1993 + 1995 Played lead roles in ‘70s Musicals Greece and Station 70 at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre.

1996 + 1997 “Unforgettable Too” at the Play House Theatre in Durban.

1998 “Symphonic Pops” – Premier performance with Cape Town Symphony under the direction of Darryl Andrews

Featured Performer with Orchestra, at Spier Amphitheatre, under the direction of George Michie.

1998 Appeared as a special guest on “Noot Vir Noot”
TV game show.

1998 October Special Guest Appearange at Springvale Town Hall, Melbourne Australia to an ecstatic South African audience.

1999 Performed in “Lights Camera Action”
at the Carousel Casino Resort – Johannesburg.

1999 Featured performer “Philharmonic Pops” and
“Dunhill Symphony of Fire” with Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of George Michie.

2000 Appeared as special guest on Bambanani TV Game Show.

2001 Performed in Backstage Musical Production at Baxter Theatre.

2002 “E.C.P.O. Pops” with the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of George Michie

2003 Reunion concerts at Grand West Casino with the Tony Schilder Trio.
Guest artist at the K.F.M. Radio Whale Festival in Hermanus on the South Coast.

Featured performer at the New Year’ s Eve Festival Concert - Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with along Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Richard Koch.

“Symphonic Pops” - Spier Amphitheatre Stellenbosch with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of George Michie.

2004 -6 Currently performing around Cape Town at prestige venues