PJ Powers
| Penelope Jane Dunlop | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | PJ Powers, Thandeka |
| Born |
16 July 1960 Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Website | www |
Penelope Jane Dunlop also known as PJ Powers or "Thandeka" (born 16 July 1960) is a South African musician, who has recorded 15 albums and is well known for her UK chart hit "World In Union" (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) in 1995.
Penelope Jane was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on 16 July 1960. PJ's first musical group was an all-girl band called Pantha. About a year later she joined Jimslip which in time became the famous "Hotline". She was the lead singer for the rock band Hotline, which was formed in Johannesburg in 1980. The band changed their style to Afro-rock in 1983. Hotline disbanded in 1987, after which P.J. Powers pursued a solo career.
The year 1988 saw P.J. banned from radio and TV for a year by the apartheid government for her performance at a charity concert for war orphans in Zimbabwe, along with Miriam Makeba and Harry Belafonte. She was encouraged to continue her singing by Nelson Mandela, who sent her an encouraging letter from Victor Verster Prison in Cape Town.
In 1995, her recording of the Rugby World Cup official song featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, "World in Union", reached no. 47 on the UK Singles Chart,. She performed the song live at the opening of the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Cape Town for a worldwide television audience.
In the '90s, her music took on a more Afro-pop focus, finding a receptive audience in the black market, who gave her the nickname, "Thandeka" — "the loved one".
Some of her biggest hits like "Feel So Strong" (a 1983 duet with Steve Kekana) she wrote herself, as well as "You're So Good to Me" (1982), "There is an Answer" (1986) and "Home to Africa" (1985). One of her biggest hits (with Hotline) was "Jabulani", which was written by Hotline's bass guitarist, George van Dyk.
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