Charles Segal
A prolific South African pianist and composer, Charles Segal is recognized for his varied albums of children's music, jazz, and relaxing mood music. Emerging in the 1950s, he initially drew public attention with his popular English and Afrikaans music, as well as his work composing for the South African Broadcast Company. Along with many of his songs becoming standards in South Africa, Segal has garnered acclaim, including a 1973 South African Record Industry (SARI) award and a 2017 Guinness Book of World Records title as the Most Recorded Pianist in the world.
Born in 1929 in Joniškis, Lithuania, Segal was two years old when his Jewish family left the country to escape the Holocaust, settling in Cape Town, South Africa. Encouraged to study classical piano, Segal excelled, eventually graduating from the Trinity College of London with degrees in performance and teaching. As a performer, he first came to fame in 1952 when his composition "Miskien" (Afrikaans for "Perhaps") won a magazine songwriting competition. Buoyed by his success, he embarked on a lucrative performance and recording career, founding the Spin Record Company and established his own publication firm to promote his music. Along with releasing his own albums, he worked regularly for the South African Broadcast Company (SABC), performing on the radio and supplying the music for numerous productions, including "The Forsyte Saga," "Story of an African Farm," "The Saga of Prunella," and many others.
From 1969 to 1992, Segal's "Carousel" (co-written with Dorothy Arenson) was used as the theme song for the SABC's external service Radio RAS (Radio South Africa). Along the way, many of the pianist's songs gained popularity in South Africa, including recordings like "Africa," "Kwela, Kwela," "Die Ou Kalahari," "Sy Kom Van Kommetjie," "Kalkoenkie," and "Hy-Ba-Ba-Rie-Bab," among many others. He also garnered attention around the globe, composing songs for Arthur Prysock, Sheila Davis, and Ronnie Dove. In 1973, his song "My Children, My Wife" was named South African Song of the Year. As well as being a founding member of the Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) and the Drama and Literary Rights Organization (DALRO), he also started his highly regarded Charles Segal Music Schools in Pretoria and Cape Town.
Working with his wife, singer and actress Colleen Hay, Segal has composed a handful of musicals, including Magical Mystery Man, Rocky Road, Mystery Mansion, and Once Upon a Storyland. In the late '80s, the couple relocated to the United States, where they composed the musical Freedom! A Refusenik Story. Together, they have also published several music tutorial books. In 2018, they moved to Los Angeles, where Segal has remained active, performing at award shows such as the Oscars, Emmys, and the Kids Choice and Teen Choice Awards. In June 2017, Segal was awarded the Guinness Book of World Records title of the Most Recorded Pianist in the world, having recorded 11,721 tracks.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Time to Unite
New Age - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 07.07.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
More Than One Note
Jazz - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 17.03.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dancing Away
Lounge - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 11.01.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Free as a Segal
Lounge - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 20.08.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Making Our Choice
Lounge - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 24.11.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Putting My Trust in You
New Age - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 10.07.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Colors of My Mind
Lounge - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 16.04.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Make a Difference for World Peace
New Age - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 09.12.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Dreaming
Klassik - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 07.07.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Creating Unity
Klassik - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 03.08.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Opus Africa
World Music - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 14.08.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Coming to Our Senses
Klassik - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 05.03.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Life Needs Love
Jazz - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 13.10.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Far from Home
Lounge - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 31.12.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Give Me a Smile
Jazz - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 13.01.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Music for Enjoyment
Klassik - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 12.04.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Once or Twice
Lounge - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 07.07.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Before the Rain
Jazz - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 23.12.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Saying What You Mean
Lounge - Erschienen bei Charles Segal am 09.07.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo