Hugh Masekela

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Biography

Hugh Masekela (born Johannesburg, April 4, 1939) is a South African flugelhorn and cornet player. In 1961, as part of the anti-apartheid campaign, he was exiled to the United States where he was befriended by Harry Belafonte. He has played primarily in ensembles, with guest appearances on albums by The Byrds and Paul Simon. In 1987, he had a hit single with “Bring Him Back Home” which became an anthem for the movement to free Nelson Mandela. After apartheid ended, Masekela returned to South Africa where he now lives.

Hugh Masekela was an old collaborator of Abdullah Ibrahim. He is reported to have been initially inspired in his musical growth by Trevor Huddleston, a British priest working in the South African townships who financed Masekela’s first trumpet. Masekela played his way through the vibrant Sophiatown scene with The Jazz Epistles and to Britain with King Kong, to find himself in New York in the early 1960s. He had hits in the United States with the tunes “Up, Up and Away” and the number one smash “Grazin’ in the Grass”.

A renewed interest in his African roots led him to collaborate with West and Central African musicians, and finally to reconnect with South African players when he set up a mobile studio in Botswana, just over the South African border, in the 1980s. Here he re-absorbed and re-used strains, a style he has continued to use since his return to South Africa in the early 1990s.
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  • zaz0

    This dude does not get nearly enough recognition or praise. Home Is Where The Music Is is a Jazz Classic! Truly great work.

    yesterday evening Reply

  • Maebara_san

    Stimela (Coal Train) - EPIC work!! Esp. in 24 bit /192 kHz resolution and Hi-End audio system.

    24 Feb 4:01pm Reply

  • allsoppy4

    some big tunes from this guy <3

    30 Aug 2012 Reply

  • mattcunn

    am boy am doin it

    8 Jan 2012 Reply

  • DoctorMoog42

    This guy right here.

    31 Dec 2011 Reply

  • jakobdorof

    and "grazing in the grass" is just perfect.

    11 Nov 2011 Reply

  • jakobdorof

    the record with Hedzoleh Soundz is the best LP from africa i've heard yet!

    9 Nov 2011 Reply

  • Targetlive

    The Awesome Hugh Masekela Plays late on Saturday Night at Bridlington's Musicport Festival, which runs from the 4th-6th of November. More info here: http://www.musicportfestival.com/festival-info/2011.html Musicport was established in 2000 to promote live music and music education in Whitby and the surrounding area with its primary event being Musicport World Music Festival each autumn. Over the last eight years the festival has grown year on year and has established itself as a prestigious event in the festival calendar attracting major names such as Rachid Taha, The Buena Vista Social Club presents Cachaito Lopez etc, Toumani Diabate, Levellers,Misty In Roots, Courtney Pine, Talvin Singh, Richard Hawley, Chumbawamba, Altan, Rolf Harris, Mory Kante, Osibisa, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, & Los De Abajo.

    6 Sep 2011 Reply

  • Antinomie__

    Sunny music :D

    22 Aug 2011 Reply

  • trishbell

    The coolest summer memories of this..laying in my bikini at a local lake and getting that summer tan!

    12 Feb 2011 Reply

  • Juzzy94

    great artist. african jazz...

    1 Feb 2011 Reply

  • Yastrzemski

    Brilliant at Monterey Pop

    26 Dec 2010 Reply

  • ella67-67

    uwielbiam ten kawałek !!!!!!!!!!!

    28 Sep 2010 Reply

  • mateuscks

    greetings from Brasil. great music.

    9 Sep 2010 Reply

  • EssienPopoola

    Funny how the remixes are so high up the charts. Of course, the Carl Craig remix is extra-terrestrial, but the original album is full of great tunes..http://happenstanceradio.com/community/index.php?do=/happenstance/blog/kool-the-gang-meet-hugh-masekela-in-a-1970s-funk-clash/

    25 Aug 2010 Reply

  • rorykane

    ted leo recommends this

    17 Jul 2010 Reply

  • pretoprodutora

    very nice ...the best music ...very good ... www.SerrotePreto.com fron Brasil fãn Masekela!!

    23 Jun 2010 Reply

  • yorkey

    Can someone give me some recommendations for a first time listener? :-)

    11 Jun 2010 Reply

  • MaxAmSax

    i saw him yesterday in dortmung, gemany: JUST SO AMAZINGLY GREAT!!!

    28 May 2010 Reply

  • Nobantu

    Last year when I found out (here) that this album (Home is where the music is; probably the best of H.M.; see the Wiki to that) is remastered from the 2-LP African Connection ('72) I could scrobble all of the titles of that CD here - when did that change? Who decided when, that this CD is no longer streamable here (in Germany at lost-fm)?! It makes me angry!! Yes, I do have the LPs and the CD and can listen to that heartbreaking music! But what I am doing here - then?

    8 May 2010 Reply
    • All 45 shouts

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