Recent work
SAMA and Emmy award-winning composer, musical arranger and GRAMMY Award-winning producer, JB Arthur has made music his life since becoming a professional musician in 1977, and continues to do so, working alongside some of South Africa’s and the world's greats.
From conducting a full orchestra at age twenty four to receiving the highest accolades the industry offers, JB Arthur’s musical journey has been as vibrant as the music he creates.
Working across all disciplines, harnessing the beauty and power of every imaginable musical genre - rock, pop, African, world music, orchestral, big band, inspirational, jazz, and gospel - JB has added soul to countless Albums, films, documentaries, commercials, live concerts and television shows.
Notable achievements include producing all the music for the 2010 FIFA World Cup final draw show, and co-producing the music, together with long-time friend and collaborator Sibusiso Victor Masondo for the World Cup closing ceremony watched by over 2.5 billion people worldwide. JB has composed and produced scores for over 40 Wildlife Documentary Films, including the Emmy award-winning “Eye of the Leopard”, and one of the FEATURED DOCUMENTARY FILMS at the 2020 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, “Okavango: River of Dreams”. JB’s soundtrack for the film “Story of an African Farm” (2004) was a SAMA Award winner. His Documentary Film scores have won numerous International awards, including the NEW YORK FILM AWARDS “Best Original Score” 2 years in a row (2019/2020). The 1st GRAMMY acknowledgement (for Engineering & Production) came in 2015, for his work on the GRAMMY-winning album "Winds of Samsara" (Best New Age Album), with yet ANOTHER Grammy nod in 2022 (Best New Age Album - "Divine Tides" by Stuart Copeland & Ricky Kej). Yet another GRAMMY win came in 2023 at the 65th Grammy Awards, where the JB-produced track "Bayethe" won Best World Music Performance for Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini, & Nomcebo Zikode. His SAMA Awards have come by way of WATERSHED (2005), TONY COX (2001/2007/2009), WAMBALI (2001), WOUTER KELLERMAN (2007/2009/2011), and FRESHLYGROUND (2005/2008), to name a few. JB won his OWN SAMA award with Zolani Mahola in 2022, for "Best Produced Album" ("Thetha Mama" by The One Who Sings)
Aside from his involvement in feature & documentary films, JB has created and composed the music for many of the country’s most beloved and iconic commercials as well as imaging themes for SABC 1,2 ,3 and MNet.
His involvement in television shows is also notable. JB has been Music Director for EIGHT successful seasons of "Strictly Come Dancing" on SABC and numerous pageants including Miss South Africa (10 years) and Miss World (2007 & 2008 together with Sibusiso Masondo).
JB’s well-known studios, Joe’s Garage (and now THE LOFT), has produced projects, DVDs and albums for some of South Africa’s (and elswhere) leading musical talents including Watershed, Ringo Madlingozi, Freshly Ground, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Joe Niemand, Carlo Mombelli, Nianell, PJ Powers, Wambali, and Tony Cox, to name a few. JB has recently worked with Vusi Mahlasela (new album "Umoya"), Damani Nkosi (Rap Artist from the US), Dr Jonathan Crossley (Avante-Garde Electronic Artist from the UK), DJ Khenzero, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode (colab with Grammy-winner Wouter Kellerman) & Lorraine Klaasen/Mongezi Ntaka on new recording projects. 2023 saw the release of "Umoya - Embracing the Human Spirit", a new album by SA icon Vusi Mahlasela, recorded, mixed & mastered by JB & co-produced by JB & Vusi. This project is very close to both men's hearts. 2023 has also seen JB working in a new collaboration with the all-female "Firdaus Orchestra", based in Dubai. Watch this space...