If you look back at the Langa jazz legends, the name ‘Buggs’ will always resonate with the sweet and rhythmic sound of the piano. When he sat down to perform, he would bend low in concentration as he grazed the keys with precision and passion. He poured his emotions into every song he played, swaying along with the swanky jazz notes his fellow musicians would play on the saxophone.
He undoubtedly left a mark on the local Cape Town jazz scene as he worked towards educating the youth in underdeveloped communities whilst flourishing as a jazz artist. Xolisile John ‘Buggs’ Gongco was born in Langa in 1943. He formed a jazz a cappella / vocal group Modern Choppers with fellow Langa musicians Duke Ngcukana, Kele Tyiwa and Derrick Tema and Aspro Sipoyo.
In the mid 1960s, Buggs caught the eye of jazz legends Cups Nkanuka and Mra Ngcukana. They went on to form the hottest jazz band, Jazz Souls, featuring Winston Ngozi, Dick Khoza, Sandi Feza, Gus Ntlokwana and occasionally Willie Nettie. In the late 1960s Buggs did a stint in the Durban nightclub circuit with the Cool Cats, gigging with Derrick Khoza, Tex Nduluka, Freeman Lambata, Aubrey Simani and Sandile Shange.
It was only in the 1970s that his music career really picked up when he led the young lions music group called ‘Uptownship Sextet’ featuring Ezra and Duke Ngcukana, Danayi Dlova, Victor Ntoni and Timmy Kwebulana. He later moved to Port Elizabeth, becoming the Soul Jazz Men's music director. During this time, he also found time to write arrangements for musicals like 'Phiri', featuring David Phetoe, McKay Davashe, Fats Dibeco; Zakes Mda's 'Comma Home Child' and Ben Nomoyi's 'Born To Lose'. Buggs travelled around the country as a jazz performer.
He was a prolific and gifted composer for Cups' band, with Duke Ngcukana on trumpet, Cups Nkanuka on tenor sax, Victor Ntoni on bass and Max Diamond on drums. Buggs was also a mentor to the Semitones, featuring Elijah Klaasen, Mthobeli Guma, Nopinki Ngxangane and Vuyo Mazula, as well as the Ngcukana dynasty of Duke, Ray, Ezra and Fitzroy.
He played piano with some of South Africa's best musicians, namely Sophie Mgcina, Thandie Klaasen, Xoliswa Tshikana, Abegail Kubeka, Sylvia Mdunyelwa, Sebi Mahloane, Marie Matsolo, Hope Zimemo, Aspro Spoyo, Don Tshomela, Colenso Mama, Walter Lefuma, Count Judge and Ronnie Madonsela.
Buggs enjoyed working with musical trios, often using Max Diamond, Parks Joya and Popeye Xasa on drums and bassists like Basil Moses, Mafisto and Martin Mgijima, as well as Cliff Moses on guitar. He developed a distinctive style that was evocative. When he was not performing, Buggs taught music at Music Action for People's Power (MAPP), the grassroots music development project run by Duke Ngcukana that exposed underprivileged children to music.
Buggs, together with Nombeko Mlambo, Woodrow Dlova, Enoch Guwa, Sylvia Mdunyelwa, Duke Ngcukana and Price Siqwana were involved in social upliftment programmes in the Langa township. They took the many of the youth off the streets, teaching them music, taking them off drugs, which is what is prevalent to this day.
Buggs was a selfless gentleman, a sensational musician and a sensitive teacher, adored by all in the music fraternity who worked with him. The untimely passing in 1996 was a great loss for the local jazz community.