- published: 22 Nov 2012
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Hugh Ramopolo Masekela (born April 4, 1939) is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer. He is the father of American television host Sal Masekela.
Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child. At age 14, after seeing the film Young Man With a Horn (in which Kirk Douglas plays a character modeled after American jazz trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke), he took up playing the trumpet. His first trumpet was given to him by Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, the anti-apartheid chaplain at St. Peter's Secondary School.
Huddleston asked the leader of the then Johannesburg "Native" Municipal Brass Band, Uncle Sauda, to teach Masekela the rudiments of trumpet playing. Masekela quickly mastered the instrument. Soon, some of Masekela's schoolmates also became interested in playing instruments, leading to the formation of the Huddleston Jazz Band, South Africa's first youth orchestra. By 1956, after leading other ensembles, Masekela joined Alfred Herbert's African Jazz Revue.
Hugh Masekela - Estival Jazz Lugano 2009
Hugh Masekela - Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz (full album)
Hugh Masekela "Celebrate Mama Africa" - Estival Jazz Lugano 2011
Hugh Masekela- Thanayi
Hugh Masekela - Stimela
Hugh Masekela-Grazing In The Grass
Hugh Masekela - STIMELA / Coal Train (Best Version)
Hugh Masekela: Celebrating 75 Years on Livestream @JALC
Proudest Monkey Live in Johannesburg with Hugh Masekela
Hugh Masekela - Mama
Hugh Masekela with Paul Simon
Hugh Masekela - Home is where the music is (1972)
Hugh Masekela - Old People, Old Folks
Hugh Masekela - Mandela (Bring Him Back Home) - Jazz Day 2015