Phiri speaking to EWN earlier in the year
Phiri speaking to EWN earlier in the year
It’s a truly sad day for music: Jazz legend Ray Phiri passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning at a hospital in Nelspruit.
His glittering five-decade career saw him make a name for himself on the international stage, team up with the likes of Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and earn an Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his contribution to the industry.
Family spokesperson Paul Nkanyane says they’re devastated:
“He has been bad for the past few days. I spoke to him on Monday and he was struggling but unfortunately, there was nothing we could have done. The doctors say they tried all that they could to help him out.
Read: Graceland film featuring Ray Phiri comes to Sundance Festival, London
His jazz, fusion and mbaqanga sound on his studio albums are largely recognised as seminal works in the SA music industry, with his last EP ‘Turn on the Sun’ being released in 2011.
Phiri was born in Mpumalanga in 1947, and began his music career aged 23. He formed ‘The Cannibals’ and performed with them throughout the 1970s, before going on to perform with Stimela for the majority of his career.
Unfortunately for Ray, he was never too far from tragedy. He has seen separate car crashes claim the lives of his bandmates and his wife, and his fight with lung cancer has sadly come to an end.
He will be remembered for the joy he put into millions of souls. His genuine passion for his medium was infectious, and the man known as ‘Just Now’ will forever be known as one of South Africa’s greatest.
Rest in Peace, Mr Phiri.
Tags:
