BEHIND GRACELAND: ASHLEY KAHN JOINS MARTIN MYERS ON CAPETALK

A firsthand account of the music, the controversy and the South African musicians who helped shape a landmark musical journey.

We discuss his latest book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland.

Ashley Kahn experienced the Graceland story from behind the scenes.

Having worked on the tour’s production team and served as tour manager for Ladysmith Black Mambazo, he brings a rare personal perspective to a recording that connected South African sounds with audiences around the world.

On Thursday, 22 October 2026, at 9pm, the Grammy Award-winning music historian, author and producer joins Martin Myers on CapeTalk’s The Business of Entertainment to discuss his latest book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland.

For Myers, this is also a deeply personal conversation. His friendships with the late Ray Phiri and Tony Cedras, whose musicianship formed part of the Graceland recording and touring story, bring an intimate connection to its enduring legacy.

Together, Myers and Kahn will explore the creative partnerships, business decisions and political tensions behind the project. How did these musical collaborations take shape? What did its international success mean for the South African artists involved? And how should we understand its legacy against the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa?

Kahn teaches at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. His books examine Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue and John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, and he co-wrote Carlos Santana’s autobiography, The Universal Tone.

Expect a conversation about artistic ambition, cultural exchange and the people behind the music, informed by someone who was there.

Tune in: Thursday, 22 October 2026 | 9pm

The Business of Entertainment with Martin Myers

CapeTalk 567 AM | DSTV channel 885