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Salie Davids didn’t realise at the time how much greatness could come from a single seed he sowed when he founded the Silver Sounds Band out of his panel beating shop.

Hundreds of people have received free instruction from the band on how to play any instrument they choose.

In an interview with GroundUp at the beginning of 2023, Davids stated that the group presently consists of seventy musicians: eighteen play trombone, twenty-one saxophone, thirty-plus play trumpet, and a few alternate between the bass and snare drums.

He clarified that he founded the band because of his youngest son, who began playing the trombone in 2005. The author of this piece stated that the band’s members and founder share a link that prevents it from being classified as either a music school or “your ordinary band.”

As soon as Davids began supporting his son’s newfound love, other kids began to show up at the store eager to join; word of the band’s formation quickly spread like wildfire. The Silver Sounds Band was born out of the fires these youngsters had inside of them.

He bought all of the band’s instruments, although he admitted to the publication that it was challenging to find new ones because the band’s current ones are outdated.

“Maintaining the instruments is my biggest expense,” he stated, estimating that it would cost him, at most, R3, 000 per month to replace any missing instruments or to simply keep them serviced.

According to Davids, they work a lot with beginners, which causes mouthpieces to break or disappear.

He claims that there aren’t enough instruments for the number of children who are interested and that they are having financial difficulties.

“Trumpets are what I need. I also need trombones.”

He told GroundUp that kids as young as 10 are involved in the band, which serves as a means of keeping the kids occupied and off the streets.

Rukeya, David’s wife, makes a pot of chicken akhni for the kids to eat during rehearsals, but it costs at least R1, 200 to buy all the materials for one practice night.

The group is looking for sponsors and donors.

Editor’s note: Salie Davids didn’t realise at the time how much greatness could come from a single seed he sowed when he founded the Silver Sounds Band out of his panel beating shop. Hunger to learn something is what inspired him to help his son and many others who were musically gifted to reach their dreams.

Description: Community builder Salie Davids started the 70 plus musical band, helping young people from the Cape Flats, in Cape Town, realise their gift for music.

Editor: Thato Mahlangu

Project manager: Do4SA