LEGENDARY South African trumpeter Hugh Ramopolo Masekela has died.
It is reported that Masekela lost his battle with prostate cancer.
Masekela had been fighting cancer since 2008.
Masekela was born in the Kwa-Guqa township in Witbank in Mpumalanga.
He began singing and playing trumpet at the age of 14 and was considered to be the "father of South African jazz."
He was known for his legendary jazz masterpieces and his anti-apartheid songs struggle while he in exile.
In his early days, Masekela played with artists such as Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim), Jonas Gwangwa, Miriam Makeba and Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Masekela was part of the orchestra for the South African Broadway-style musical King Kong.
However, after the Sharpeville Massacre, Masekela was helped by Huddleston and other international friends to study in America.
Masekela went to study at the London Guildhall School of Music, and later the Manhattan School of Music.
