South African music legend Hugh Masekela dies at 78

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 28: South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela on November 28, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / City Press / Lucky Nxumalo).

Legendary South African musical icon Hugh Masekela has died at the age of 78 on Tuesday. His battle was long but his career will see him go down in SA history.

Story by The South African and BBC

South African musical legend Hugh Masekela has died in a Johannesburg hospital after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Masakela was 78-years-old.


Song: Hugh Masekela - Grazing in the Grass

The jazz hero had been receiving treatment for his cancer since 2008. He was scheduled to perform at the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival in October but cancelled to focus fully on battling the disease.

In a statement, his family said he had "passed peacefully" in Johannesburg "after a protracted and courageous battle with prostate cancer".

Masekela gained global recognition with his distinctive Afro-Jazz sound and hits such as Soweto Blues.

The 1977 song became synonymous with the anti-apartheid movement.

In a statement, South African President Jacob Zuma said Masekela's death was "an immeasurable loss to the music industry and to the country at large".

Zuma continued: "His contribution to the struggle for liberation will never be forgotten."

Masakela was born on 4 April 1939 in Witbank. He began his musical journey by playing the piano as a child. He had also credited his love for jazz from the movie Young Man with a Horn, a film about jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke.

He was then assisted by anti-apartheid activist Father Trevor Huddleston who helped him get access to a trumpet and arranged tuition. This led to Masekela quickly joining the country’s first youth orchestra, the Huddleston Jazz Band.

After joining the cast of an “all African jazz opera” King Kong in London, Masekela ended up staying in London to study at the London Guildhall School of Music. He also later moved to the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

After working on King Kong which also helped launch fellow SA icon Miriam Makeba’s career, the pair married for two brief years in 1964.

Hugh Masekela's biggest song is the iconic "Grazing in the Grass", which reached number one on the U.S. Pop and R/B charts.

Masekela has collaborated and performed with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Paul Simon.

May he rest in peace and be remembered for his incredible music.
____________________________________
Read more:
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42786749
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Masekela