Claire Johnston opens up about her 40 years as the lead singer of Mango Groove

Stephen Grootes speaks to Claire Johnston, lead vocalist of Mango Groove, about her life, music career,  reflecting on her journey, from her early days as a stage performer to the band's impact on South African music and culture.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

If you're asked to name an iconic South Africa music group, you will most likely mention Mango Groove.

Formed in 1984, the band has released six studio albums and numerous singles, with many members coming and going over the next forty years.

But one member remained constant, becoming the iconic voice of Mango Groove over the next four decades.

Born in England, Claire Johnston has lived in South Africa since the age of three, joining Mango Groove at the age of 17 and never looked back, still performing as the band's lead singer at the age of 57.

The forty years of being in mango Groove included many highs and lows for Johnston, but all important life lessons that have made memorable stories.

Johnston spoke to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show about how it all began for her as matric student, while performing in chart-topping band, to becoming the internationally known performer she is today.

"...that matric year was difficult, because I was just wanting to grow up. I just wanted to be a grown up. I used to go hang at at Wits University a lot of the times when I was supposed to be at school."

- Claire Johnston, lead singer - Mango Groove

"You'll have a global event like the pandemic. Like Covid, where 18 months you don't work. And, what do you do? You cash in savings, you cash in policies. So you've got to try and be sensible about all of these things."

- Claire Johnston, lead singer - Mango Groove

"It's tough, It's bruising. You've got to have a thick skin...it's a tough business."

- Claire Johnston, lead singer - Mango Groove

"The right ecosystem. Timing. Who you know. Who you meet along the way. Everything lines up. Then you can fly. If one of those things doesn't line up properly, I dunno, you can get pretty hopeless."

- Claire Johnston, lead singer - Mango Groove

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.