Sam Mtukudzi dies in car crash

Image c/o Tauri Maduna (1 March 2009, Emmerentia, JHB, South Africa)

The accident happened near the Pamuzinda Highway Escape, whilst travelling back from an event in Bulawayo en route to Harare, Zimbabwe. It appears that the driver lost control of the vehicle in which they were travelling and it veered off the road.

Biography

Born on 1st April 1988, Sam first showed his musical nature at the age of 4 when he started strumming on his Father's guitar. The family was then located in the City of Kwekwe. At the age of 10 his father saw him perform at a school concert and was so impressed by the performance that he bought him his first guitar.

When he started high school at Prince Edward in Harare, Sam found before him an institution that had great facilities for him to pursue music seriously and to learn a number of instruments. He immersed himself into it, learning mbira, drums, marimbas, saxophone and mastering his guitar skills.

As soon as he was done with school Sam started performing professionally, backing his father on many occasions, but also performing on his own. He went on to form his own ensemble, the Ay Band.

Sam released his first album, Rume Rimwe in 2008 (Sheer Sound). Just last week he had returned from South Africa where he was overseeing the mixing of his second album.

He performed all over the world including in countries such as Canada, United States of America, Lesotho, Swaziland, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ireland and United Kingdom.

His talent has illuminated festivals such as the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Winter Jazz Festival, Victoria Falls International Jazz Festival and, Johannesburg International Jazz Festival among others.

His last show was at the Sports Diner on Saturday, 13 March 2010, where he and his band gave an inspired performance, albeit to a small crowd of about twenty people.