Born in the township of Seshego in South Africa on this date in 1939, Hugh Masekaela played the flugelhorn and cornet, sang, composed and was known as the “the father of South African jazz.” Masekela wrote well-known anti-apartheid song like Soweto Blues and Bring Him Back Home. He also had a number one hit on the U.S. pop charts in 1968 with his song Grazing in the Grass.

Masekela took up trumpet at the age of 14 after seeing the movie “Young Man With a Horn,” in which Kirk Douglas plays a character modeled on American jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, and quickly mastered the instrument. Soon, some of his schoolmates also became interested in playing instruments which led to the formation of the Huddleston Jazz Band, South Africa's first youth orchestra.

Hugh Masekela played music that closely reflected his life experience. The agony, conflict and exploitation faced by South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s inspired and influenced him to make music and also spread political change. In his music he portrayed the struggles and sorrows, as well as the joys and passions of his country.

At the end of 1959 Abdullah Ibrahim and Masekela joined other South African jazz musicians to form the Jazz Epistles, the first African jazz group to record an album. The group performed to record-breaking audiences in South Africa over the next two years. Following the March 1960 Sharpesville Massacre where 69 protesters were shot dead, the South African government banned gatherings of ten or more people and the band could no longer perform. Soon Masekela left the country and eventually moved to New York City where he studied classical trumpet at the Manhattan School of Music for four years.

During the 1960s Masekela performed primarily with jazz groups, but also made guest appearances with the folk-rock band The Byrds and later worked with Paul Simon on his “Graceland” album. In 1985, Masekela founded the Botswana International School of Music which gives local musicians of all ages and from all backgrounds the opportunity to play and perform together. Masekela taught the jazz course at the first workshop, and performed at the final concert.

Hugh Masekela passed away in Johannesburg in January 2018 at the age of 78.

Here is a link to what is probably Hugh Masekela’s best-known recording:

"GRAZING IN THE GRASS"