Jazz legend Hugh Masekela has died. When it comes to Bra Hugh’s illustrious music career, numbers say it all:

 

5 – the number of decades his solo career has spanned.

 

14 – The age advocator of equal rights in SA, Father Trevor Huddleston, provided Masekela with a trumpet.

 

21 – the age Bra Hugh left his home country SA to begin what would be 30 years in exile.

 

40 – Bra Hugh has released over 40 albums.

 

78 – His age at the time of death.

 

1939 – The year Bra Hugh was born in the town of Witbank.

 

1963 – The year his debut album Trumpet Africaine was released.

 

1990 – The year Bra Hugh returned to SA from exile.

 

2004 – His autobiography Still Grazing: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela was released.

 

2010 – He opened the FIFA Soccer World Cup Kick-Off Concert.

 

2015 – #WeaveMustFall according to #BraHugh as he caused quite a stir when he declared that he will not have pictures taken with women whose hair is not natural.

 

2017 – The year Bra Hugh was given an Honorary Doctorate by the University of KwaZulu-Natal for his contribution to music.

 

2018- The year Bra Hugh died.

 

5 Quick Facts

His US hits include Up‚ Up and Away and the album Grazin’ in the Grass (1968) which became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

 

– He usually played in jazz ensembles

 

– He made guest appearances on albums by The Byrds and Paul Simon

 

– He had a hit in 1987 with Bring Him Back Home‚ which became an anthem for the liberation of Mandela

 

– In the 1980s he set up a mobile studio in Botswana and punted “mbaqanga”‚ a music style with Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide.

• Sowetan

Picture credit: The Coston Chronicles

Entertainment | Celebrity Gossip & News