Born Vlakfontein Pretoria 20th January, 1933. Died Baragwanath Hospital, cirrhosis of liver 9th February, 1972.
Johannes "Spokes" Mashiyane was regarded as one of the greatest pennywhistle artists who graced the South African kwela

Kwela

Kwela is a happy, often pennywhistle-based, street music from southern Africa with jazzy underpinnings and a distinctive, skiffle-like beat. It evolved from the marabi sound and brought South African music to international prominence in the 1950s....

 music scene from the 1950s to (approximately) the 1970s.. Arriving on the pennywhistle band scene as a juvenile domestic servant from the northern Sotho communities in the Transvaal alongside contemporaries of Alexandra boys such as Lemmy Mabaso, Barney Rachabane, Elias and Jack Lerole

Jack Lerole

Aaron "Big Voice" Jack Lerole was a South African penny whistle player and singer, a leading performer in the kwela style of music in the 1950s, and best remembered in the UK as the leader of 'Elias and His Zig Zag Jive Flutes', who had an international hit in 1958 with "Tom...

. He claimed that the inspiration for his songs were from his dreams. He played with other kwela greats of his time and his music is enjoyed by many to this day. He was married in 1964, and leaves widow, Mary, and sons, Federick and Eugene.

More information on Spokes Mashiyane and other kwela music artists available over here http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/artist/content.artist/spokes_mashiyane/en_US