Ray Phiri

Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri (23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017) was a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician[1] born in Mpumalanga to Thabethe Phiri, a Malawian immigrant worker, and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He collaborated with Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Simon's Graceland (album) project in 1985, and became founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970s. When the Cannibals disbanded Ray founded Stimela, with whom he conceived gold and platinum-selling albums like Fire, Passion and Ecstacy (1982), Look, Listen and Decide (1986).

Ray Phiri
Phiri performing in 2007
Born
Raymond Chikapa Phiri

(1947-03-23)23 March 1947
Nelspruit, South Africa
Died12 July 2017(2017-07-12) (aged 70)
Nelspruit, South Africa
OccupationRecording artist, jazz fusion
Years active1970–2017
Spouse(s)Daphney Phiri (deceased)
Children3 sons, 5 daughters
Musical career
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, reggae, mbaqanga
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
LabelsGallo, Barclay
Associated actsStimela, "Just Now" Phiri, Paul Simon

Career

Ray Phiri was born near Nelspruit in the then Eastern Transvaal, now Mpumalanga Province, in South Africa. In 1985, Paul Simon asked Ray along with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and other South African musicians to join his Graceland project, which was successful and also helped the South African musicians to make names for themselves abroad.

Phiri was to collaborate with Simon again on Simon's Rhythm of the Saints album, which saw him perform in over 30 nations during 1990 and 1991, including Paul Simon's Concert in the Park (August 1991, Central Park) and New York's Madison Square Garden, as well as appearing on Saturday Night Live and other top television shows in the United States. The tour concluded in early 1992 with concerts staged in South Africa at venues in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. In 2012 Simon organised a European Graceland 25th Anniversary Tour in which Phiri also contributed his voice, guitar and leadership.[2]

In a 2011 interview with The Sunday Times Phiri said that there was "bad blood" between him and Simon.[3][4] Phiri maintained that Simon never gave him credit for the songs he had written for Graceland, and that Ladysmith Black Mambazo "hardly got any royalties".[3][4] But he added: "maybe I wouldn't have been able to handle all that wealth. I sleep at night, I have my sanity and I enjoy living. The big rock 'n' roll machine did not munch me."[3][4]

Personal life and death

Phiri was involved in a series of car accidents which affected his personal life and musical career. Phiri was badly injured in 1987 in a crash that claimed the lives of his band manager and six others.[5][6] In 2003, his wife was killed in a car accident, but Ray escaped serious injury. Phiri was diagnosed with lung cancer and died at the age of 70 on 12 July 2017 at a Nelspruit hospital.[7][3] A memorial service for Phiri was held at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 20 July,[8] and the funeral service took place at the same venue on 22 July.[9]

Achievements

Phiri has received many awards in recognition for his contribution in the music industry, one of these is the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver awarded to him by the South African president. This was to honor his sterling contribution to the South African music industry and the successful use of arts as an instrument of social transformation.[10]

Discography
  • 1984: Fire, Passion and Ecstasy
  • 1985: Shadows, Fear and Pain
  • 1986: Look, Listen and Decide
  • 1986: Rewind (released due to popular demand after Look, Listen and Decide)
  • 1987: Unfinished Story
  • 1988: Live!
  • 1989: Trouble in the Land of Plenty
  • 1990: The Second Half (Live)
  • 1991: Siyaya
  • 1992: Khululani
  • 1993: Live 3 (Are You Ready)
  • 1994: Don't Ask Why
  • 1996: Out of the Ashes
  • 2003: Steam Tracks (Best Of)
  • 2010: A Lifetime...
  • 2010: Live In Concert 25 Years

References
  1. Mojapelo 2008, p. 136.
  2. "Billionaire funds Ray Phiri's Aus visit". Channel24. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  3. "Ray Phiri, South African jazz musician who performed with Paul Simon, dies at 70". The Washington Post. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  4. Temkin, Nikki (12 July 2017). "Our most touching interview with Ray Phiri". TimesLive. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. Samayende, Sizwe; Arenstein, Justin (23 November 2003). "Phiri's tragic life of car accidents". City Press (in Afrikaans). Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. "Ray Phiri in accident, wife killed". The M&G Online. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  7. "Music veteran Ray Phiri has died". TimesLive. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  8. "PHOTOS: Ray Phiri memorial service". Channel24. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  9. "Music legend Ray Phiri laid to rest". HeraldLive. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  10. "Raymond (Ray) Chikapa Phiri". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
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