Farewell to a legend
THE ballroom, rock, pop and Latin American dance music fraternity has been plunged into mourning.
Dee Sharma Roopanand, 75, rode the firmament of the local dance music scene for more than five decades as the founder and leader of the Dukes Combo, one of South Africa’s most popular and longest-running working bands.
His funeral took place at Clare Estate Crematorium on Monday amid a large gathering of relatives, friends and diehard followers of his distinctive brand of dance music.
Several leading musicians, who either cut their teeth under the tutelage of Sharma or played alongside him with the Dukes, rendered nostalgic tunes at the funeral service, which was a celebration of the salutary influence one man had on thousands of lovers of ballroom dance music.
As the body was consigned for cremation, Gabriel Joseph and Mark Pillay played The Last Output.
Soft-spoken Sharma, dubbed the “gentle giant of music”, was well known for his genteel and polite mannerisms.
He once said apartheid laws were a major obstacle as his band could not play at venues that had liquor licences for whites only.
In 1978 the band members quit their day jobs and turned professional and got contracts at the Las Vegas discotheque in Joburg and the Why Not Disco in Swaziland.
Over the years singers and musicians left the band, and others joined.
Trumpeter Brian Thusi, guitarists Eugene Mkhize and Sagie Naidoo, and trombonist Philip Thusi added new sounds to the band, which quickly spread its popularity into townships such as uMlazi, KwaMashu, Imbali and Edendale.
The Dukes Combo has also been an excellent training ground from which many musicians have launched their careers.
Those who have been associated with the band in more recent years are Martin Sigamoney, Gabriel Joseph, John David, Gordon Padayachee, Karen Devroop, Neil Gonsalvez, George Mari and George Lutchman.
Some of the well-known vocalists who were backed by the Dukes Combo include Eve Boswell, Rodger Moore 007, George McRae, Terry Fortune, Ben Msinga, Brian Mulder, Pappa & Blondie, Ronnie Madonsella, Zane Adams, Sammy Brown, Vivienne Kensley, Essop Ganie, Eddie Watts and Gobi Martin.
Keyboard player and manager of the Dukes Combo, Anthony Joseph, said Sharma’s death was a severe blow.
“Dee was a veritable father to all younger musicians. He was a disciplined and meticulous leader and teacher, who espoused old-school values. He will be sorely missed.”
Sharma’s lifelong friend and manager of the Dukes Combo for more than 50 years, Neville Naidoo, said it was because of the solid foundation laid by music stalwarts such as Sharma that the dance music scene still flourished today.
“The Dukes has survived because of the systems and order Dee infused into the group since day one.
“Also Dee ensured the group adapted to the changing environment by presenting contemporary music while also preserving traditional dance numbers,” he said.
Naidoo said a memorial concert was being planned to honour Sharma’s contribution to the local entertainment scene.
Nicholas Joseph, a fellow musician and friend, said Sharma became a legend in his own lifetime.
“His brand of music will never die. Fortunately those who loved to dance to the sounds of Dee’s sax can continue boogying through his many recordings.”