Ali Katt joins SA’s roll of honour
Musician sang until the end
Legendary singer Ali Katt, who died last week, was keen to perform – even after suffering a stroke.
Born Albert Moroasehla, the bubblegum star with a gravel voice – who was famous for his mega hit Let The Good Times Roll – died last Wednesday at Tembisa Hospital after problems with high blood pressure.
Katt, 60, had spent two weeks in hospital due to complications from a stroke he suffered four years earlier.
His manager and close friend, Jacky Mathala, said he still performed while on his wheelchair at the time of his death.
“After the stroke he was in demand in Botswana. I was against it because I realised his body would not handle the travelling. But he wanted to perform for his fans.”
Mathala said Katt’s last performance before the stroke was in 2014 at M-Net’s Galaxy of Stars event in Midrand.
He performed alongside the late Hugh Masekela and did a song with kwaito star Kabelo Mabalane.
Although he did not release new music since the late 1990s, Katt recorded songs between 2007 and 2011 that were not officially released.
If Katt was not performing, he did voice overs and jingles, he even created music for an MTN commercial. Mathala said he also spent most of his time teaching young people how to sing.
Katt’s memorial service will take place on Thursday at Sam Hlalele Hall from noon.
He will be buried on Saturday in Tembisa.