Dolly Rathebe
Dolly Rathebe (OIS) (1928–2004) was a South African musician and actress. Dolly Rathebe was born in Randfontein (west of Krugersdorp) in South Africa but grew up in Sophiatown which she describes as having been "a wonderful place". She was discovered around 1948 after singing at a picnic in Johannesburg. A talent scout from Gallo approached her and it wasn't long before she became a star. She rose to fame in 1949 aged 19 when she appeared as a nightclub singer in the British-produced movie, Jim Comes To Jo'burg - the first film to portray urban Africans in a positive light. During a photo-shoot for Drum magazine at a mine dump, Dolly and the white photographer, Jürgen Schadeberg were arrested under the Immorality Act, which forbade interracial relationships. When Alf Herbert's African Jazz and Variety show opened in 1954, Dolly appeared and stayed as Herbert's main attraction for many years. She became an international star when she sang with the Afro-jazz group, the Elite Swingsters in 1964.
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