Hugh Masekela

Hugh Masekela
Masekela performing in 2011
Born	Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (1939-04-04)4 April 1939 Emalahleni, Union of South Africa
Died	23 January 2018(2018-01-23) (aged 78) Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupations	Multi-instrumentalist singer composer bandleader political activist
Years active	1956–2018
Children	Selema Masekela
Relatives	Barbara Masekela (sister) Earl Sweatshirt (nephew)
Musical career
Genres	Afropop jazz mbaqanga
Instruments	Trumpet flugelhorn trombone cornet vocals
Labels	Mercury MGM Uni Chisa Blue Thumb Casablanca Heads Up Verve PolyGram
Musical artist
Website	hughmasekela.co.za

Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018)^[1] was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for writing well-known anti-apartheid songs such as "Soweto Blues" and "Bring Him Back Home". He also had a number-one US pop hit in 1968 with his version of "Grazing in the Grass".