Germaine Leonard, is a Cape Afro Jazz Guitarist, from Mannenberg who graduated in 2019 with a BA degree in Jazz Pedagogical studies at UCT.

2024 will hopefully be the breakthrough year for Germaine Leonard & the Fanatics SA starting on 13 January 2024 at 19H00 at  the Jazzathon Summer Showcase in Cape Town.

Germaine plays the Ibanez Artcore Hollow body and the USA Fender Strat and the Cort Nylon String guitar, first love is actually the Bass Guitar.

Germaine moved to George in 2007 (where he matriculated top of his class with music as a subject.)

Germaine, is now a music teacher in George and after his studies in 2019 started his own Music Academy, The Germaine Leonard Music (GLM) Academy.

 Germaine is also a founder member of the Garden Route Musicians Network (GRMN).

The network hosts regular workshops and recently in November 2023 had Music Exchange and Jazzathon do a Saturday morning workshop in George for creatives.

Germaine as a solo artist has worked with Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse when he celebrated 50 Years in Music.

He also performed with the likes of Siphokazi Jonas, Errol Dyers, Alou April.

He was approached, in 2019, by a few school friends Wilton Oktober (Keyboards), Alfonso Julius (Drums) and Marco Plaatjies (Bass) to form the band called Fanatics SA.

They are now 4-piece Afro Pop band from George. Their unique sound of Afro Pop inspired by synths and Punchy Grooves make for a band that at its core grooves and entertains.

 Recently the band opened for Shakatak on their World tour in the Grand Arena, Grand West, Cape Town (September 30, 2023)

The funky Fanatics SA back most of the South African Acts who come to the Southern Cape, one thinks of Moss Jazz 2023 (23-26 November 2023) saw the band backing Theo Watt (The Rockets) Vuvu Kumalo and August West.

We chatted to Germaine last week

What is your purpose?

My purpose is to be a beacon of hope through everything I do.

What does music mean to you?

Escapism and healing.

My music is about…

Hope.

What is your motto?

Be your authentic self…

Speak your truth…

Live your truth…

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail…

Fame is about…

Fame is fake.

Retirement will happen when…

When I’m dead…

I don’t do…

Drugs and Parties

I would love to co-write with…

Norman Brown

Where do you go for inspiration to create?

Anywhere where there’s peace and quiet.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

Listening to the finished product.

The song you must do during every show?

Fallen Heroes

Any funny moments on stage?

I forgot the melody to my own song.

My heroes are.

Jonathan butler

Allou April

Jimmy Dludlu

Alvyn Dyers

Errol Dyers

George Benson

Norman Brown

My style icon is.

I don’t have.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

Denzel Washington. He stays level headed and God is the center of his life.

What is your most treasured possession?

My guitars.

It’s your round; what are you drinking?

Gin and Tonic

Dream gig to do?

CIJF and travel the world with my original music.

What makes you stand out?

My smile

Any nicknames?

Saartjie Baartman

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

Detective

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Love

Respect

Fun

Joyful

Noisy

Five must have songs on your Spotify playlist please

Motherland by Jimmy Dludlu

Sugar Shake by Errol Dyers

Fallen Heroes by Germaine Legend

Falling in Love with Jesus by Jonathan Butler

Treasure by Bruno Mars

Greatest Movie Ever Made?

Cast Away

The Avengers

What book are you reading?

What on Earth am I here for by Rick Warren

What song changed your life?

Falling in Love with Jesus by Jonathan Butler

Who do you love?

My family

What is your favorite Word?

“Jehre”

Top of your bucket list?

Bungee

Your greatest achievement?

Being a husband to wife and father to my son.

What do you complain about most often?

Money and politics

What is your biggest fear?

Dying without achieving my full potential.

Happiness is…

Peace

On stage, I tend to…

Loose it

The best life lesson you have learned?

Be kind to everyone, you might need it along the way.

What has been your favorite journey so far?

My journey on religious freedom.

Do you do charity work, and if you do – what do you do?

I ran a music academy free of charge for the past 5 years.

Wishes and dreams?

Record my own music and travel the world telling my story of a “laatie” who grew up in Manenberg.

Germaine’s latest single called “Fallen Heroes” pays tribute to all the musical heroes who has passed on in the recent Covid Pandemic.

It is available on Spotify, Soundcloud and the Music Video is on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/@GermaineLeonard

Social media links

https://www.facebook.com/GemaineLeonard/

https://www.instagram.com/germaine_legend/