Music guru deserves recognition
WHEN the authentic history of dance music in our country is eventually written, the name Dee Sharma will deservedly feature high up on the national honours list.
The famous, bespectacled saxophonist who led the evergreen Dukes Combo for over 50 years, played his last note on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career that took him and his talented band of musicians to dance halls and night clubs across the length and breadth of South Africa.
A man of few words by nature, Dee allowed his trusted saxophone to do all the talking.
Like most gifted musicians during the tormented apartheid era, he grew up in a climate of cruel oppression and racial discrimination where opportunities were few and far between. But he did not see this as an impediment. His love for music surmounted all obstacles in his way.
Coming from a family of musicians, it was no surprise that he would follow in the footsteps of his parents, starting with an early crush on the humble penny whistle and ending with an enduring love affair with his trusted sax.
For Dee, the saxophone was not just a cool musical instrument – it was an extension of his own persona which allowed him to express his creative talents on stage and convey to his audience a wide variety of emotions and styles.
When news of his passing spread over the weekend, music lovers in KZN and many others provinces where he and the Dukes performed, paused to pay their respects to the man many called the “music guru”. They recalled the magic of his music and the many enthralling hours they spent gliding across the dance floor or foot-stomping to the pulsating beat of his band.
What set him apart from others is that he was not just a gifted musician, but also a highly professional band leader who successfully nurtured many budding artists with a caring attitude and a strong sense of discipline. These strong qualities helped the Dukes survive through many challenges and transitions for over half a century.
As we doff our hats to this master musician and band leader, we add our voice to a call for his legacy to be officially recognised in some tangible form.
In their efforts to promote nation building in our new democracy, the government has played a commendable role in honouring many late celebrated artists in the past.
Dee Sharma stands tall in that illustrious honours roll and his achievements and contributions to the arts in our province and country deserve to be appropriately recognised.