Lorraine Klaasen, born in 1957 in Soweto, South Africa, is a Canadian-based world music singer. Daughter of South African jazz singer Thandi Klaasen, Lorraine was influenced by musical giants such as Miriam Makeba and Dolly Rathebe and began her career at a young age, accompanying her mother on tours across South Africa and neighboring states. Klaasen later ventured into musical theater, touring Europe before settling in Montreal, Canada. Her debut album African Connexion was released in 2000, followed by Africa Calling in 2008. In 2013, she won the Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year for A Tribute to Miriam Makeba. Other notable releases include Nouvelle Journée (2016) and Ukubonga Gratitude (2022), a collaboration with Mongezi Ntaka. Klaasen has performed at prestigious events like the Montreal International Jazz Festival and received the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award in 1997 for her contributions to music.
