| Hugh Masekela, born near Johannesburg in 1939, has
covered the globe and played with just about every top star you can think
of. Masekela was originally introduced to the trumpet by anti-apartheid
activist Father Trevor Huddleston. The anti-apartheid movement became an
important influence in his life, but not as important as the music that
ended up taking him around the world many times. In his early days in the
South African music scene Masekela played with such names as pianist Dollar Brand (now
known as Abdullah Ibrahim), Jonas Gwangwa, and Kippie
Moeketsi as teenageers in the Father Huddleston Band. In 1961 Masekela
went into exile where Harry Belafonte helped him settle in the U.S. as a
student. Hugh landed in New York where he recorded many records including
his 1968 number one hit "Grazing in the Grass."
Masekela also played with such luminaries as Miriam Makeba, Zimbabwean Dorothy Masuka, the Jazz Epistles, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Hedzoleh Soundz, Francis Fuster, Dudu Pukwana, and was instrumental in the South African Broadway-style musical King Kong with many of the same people. Masekela went on to performd with Paul Simon on the Graceland tour and defended Simon vigorously when the tour was seen as a violation of the ANC's cultural boycott. His 1987 hit "Bring Him Back Home" became the anthem for Nelson Mandela's world tour following his release from prison in 1992. Masekela once again lives in South Africa and still tours throughout the world extensively.
Back to The African Music Encyclopedia: Music From Africa and the African Diaspora jplanet@africanmusic.org |