Chikapa Phiri

born on 23/3/1947 in Mpumalanga, South Africa

died on 12/7/2017 in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Alias Ray Phiri

Ray Phiri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Ray Phiri
Born Raymond Chikapa Phiri
March 23 1947
Nelspruit, South Africa
Residence Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupation Recording artist, jazz fusion
Years active 1970present
Spouse(s) Daphney Phiri (deceased)
Children 3 sons, 5 daughters

Raymond Chikapa Phiri (born 23 March 1947) is a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga to Malawian immigrant worker and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri.. He 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 [sic] (1991), Look, Listen and Decide (1992) as well as the controversial People Don't Talk So Let's Talk.

Early years

Ray Phiri was born near Nelspruit in East Transvaal, now the modern-day Mpumalanga province, in South Africa.

Personal life

In 1985, Paul Simon asked Ray along with Ladysmith Black Mambazo to join his Graceland project, which was successful and also helped the South African musicians to make names for themselves abroad. Ray was to collaborate with Paul Simon again on Simon's Rhythm of the Saints album, which saw him perform on stages such as Central Park and Madison Square Garden as well as appearing on top television shows in the USA.

In 2003, his wife was killed in an car accident, with Ray escaping serious injury.

In 2012, Paul Simon organised a Graceland anniversary tour, to which Ray came along as well.

References

  • Afropop! An Illustrated Guide to Contemporary African Music by Sean Barlow & Banning Eyre. (Book Sales August 1995) ISBN 0-7858-0443-9, ISBN 978-0-7858-0443-7
This page was last modified 07.01.2014 04:16:16

This article uses material from the article Ray Phiri from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.