Tymon Mabaleka

rdf:langString Tymon Mabaleka

rdf:langString Tymon Mabaleka (1950 – 27 June 2014) was a Zimbabwean footballer and music producer. He was nicknamed "The Whitehorse". His career lasted for nearly twenty years in sports and another fifteen years in the music industry. Mabaleka was born in in Umzingwane District. He attended Losikeyi Primary School in Bulawayo. He studied at Mpopoma High School and later moved to Mzilikazi High School. Football He played for the Highlanders FC. In 1973, the Highlanders won . He retired in 1982 to become a music producer. Music He worked for Gallo Records, and was one of the country’s most revered music producers, and often referred to as Zimbabwe's "Quincy Jones" (the prolific & well renowned American music producer). The list of musicians he worked with and produced is endless. He is responsible for the success of Zimbabwe's household musicians like Oliver Mtukudzi, James Chimombe, Lovemore Majaivana, Ilanga, Solomon S’kuza and the Fallen Heroes, Ebony Sheikh, The Frontline Kids, Shepherd Chinyani and the Vhuka Boys, Leonard Zhakata, the late John Chibadura, The Essentials, Kassongo Band and the Zimbabwe People’s Band, as well as many others. He is responsible for having produced one of Matabeleland’s most recognised and adorable musicians, the legendary Lovemore Majaivana, with top hits such as Stimela, Salanini Zinini, Sono Sami Kuleliyani’zwe, Dabuka Mhlaba, Inyoni Bani, Engelamathambo, Mkhwenyana, Bambulele uMajola, to name a few. Tymon Mabaleka also produced the late Solomon S’kuza’s Love and Scandals album and many more of Solomon Skuza’s hits. In his passion for high-quality productions, he also came up with gems such as Ebony Sheikh’s ‘Emhlabeni Kunzima’, Shepherd Chinyani and the Vhuka Boys’ ‘Mai Vakakosha’, ‘Mugove’ by Leonard Zhakata and the late John Chibadura’s collections. Mabaleka died in Harare, Zimbabwe from unknown causes, aged 64 or 65. He is survived by his wife, Josephine Mabaleka. He was buried in Bulawayo on July 3, 2014..