Tributes pour in for Bra Hugh
Tributes pour in for legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela
TRIBUTES poured in for legendary Jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela who succumbed to prostate cancer yesterday. Bra Hugh, as he was affectionately known, was born in KwaGuqa township, Witbank. Masekela began singing and playing piano as a child and at the age of 14 was inspired to play the trumpet.
His first trumpet was given to him by anti-apartheid activist Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, the chaplain from St Peter’s Secondary School in Joburg.
Huddleston asked the leader of the then Johannesburg “native” municipal brass band, Uncle Sauda, to teach Masekela how to play the trumpet, which saw it becoming his signature instrument.
Masekela has been known for playing music that closely reflects his life experiences since the early 1950s.
In the late 50s, Masekela joined up with Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim), Kippie Moeketsi, Jonas Gwangwa, Johnny Gertze, and alternately Early Mabuza or Makaya Ntshoko on drums, to form The Jazz Epistles, who regularly performed at the Odin Theatre in Sophiatown.
He had hits in the US with the pop jazz tunes Up, Up and Away and the number-one smash Grazing in the Grass, sold four million copies.
His nephew, Mabusha Masekela, said that his uncle’s life has had a great impact on the way he lived his. “I have known my uncle Hugh since the beginning. He was with my mother when she was in labour with me. I had the pleasure of working with him since the start of my career and he will always be remembered for the influence his stories had on many people’s lives through his music.”
His manager, Josh Georgiou said that he has no words after finding out about Masekela’s death. which
“All I would like to do is encourage people to listen to his music, to feel what he felt when he made his music,” he said.
Jazz photographer and close friend of Masekela, Rashid Lombard, described his passing as sad and unexpected.
“Hugh was not only a friend and mentor of mine, but also a special activist and great contributor to the jazz circuit.
“He was a great storyteller and I am sure that the bulk of his music will be recognised for generations to come. His success story is one of the most inspiring that I know of and his death will have a great effect on the industry he was so profoundly a part of,” he said.
The ANC said that they received the news of Masekela’s death with shock and sadness. “The ANC sends condolences to the Masekela family and the creative industry. We extend our sympathies to the people of South Africa on the loss of so legendary an icon.
“Indeed, a baobab tree has fallen. May his soul rest in peace,” their statement read.
Leader of the DA Mmusi Maimane said that the DA was deeply saddened by the death of Masekela. “We extend our love and condolences to his family, loved ones and the South African music fraternity. His unmistakable sound will echo in our hearts forever.
“Bra Hugh was more than just a jazz
HE WAS A GREAT STORYTELLER AND I AM SURE THE BULK OF HIS MUSIC WILL BE RECOGNISED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
musician, he was a musical genius and a fearless activist,” he said.
Cosatu national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said Masekela was not just a musician but was an activist and a hero to many South Africans.
“He used his talent to speak out and fight against apartheid. His musical talent and gained him a substantial following across the world,” he said