TWO of Mzansi’s UK-based jazz pioneers have died.
Jazz vocalist Pinise Saul and guitarist Lucky Ranku died 10 days apart from each other. The two worked closely together in London where they had been living since they had gone into exile.
Pinise died on 26 October, and Lucky shortly after on Sunday.
According to Lucky’s Facebook page the renowned guitarist died peacefully at St Anne’s Hospice in Manchester, UK.
According to justgiving.com, Pinise had requested to be buried next to her mother in her country of birth.
Lucky and Pinise transformed the jazz scene in London and worked with many jazz legends like Hugh Masekela, Mara Louw and many others including the late Miriam Makeba.
Julian Bahula, Lucky’s great friend, said: “My best memory came after the end of apartheid. In 1997 we marked the 20th anniversary of the murder of Steve Biko and the Action for Southern Africa’s south-east region organised a concert at the Union Chapel in Islington. Lucky was on board with the idea. He organised music for the concert and others followed his example.”
Julian said Lucky was in the forefront of those involved in the overthrowing of apartheid and liberation of the people of Mzansi. He was with his friends when he died at the hospice. “I am very proud to be able to pay tribute to an extraordinary musician and an extraordinary man. I am so grateful that I had the privilege of knowing him,” said Julian.
