# Ray Phiri > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ray_Phiri > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ray_Phiri.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Phiri > Source revision: 1329467788 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|South African guitarist (1947–2017)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Use South African English|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Ray Phiri | image = Ray Phiri.jpg | caption = Phiri performing in 2007 | alt = | alias = |birth_name= Raymond Chikapa Phiri | birth_date = {{birth date|1947|3|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = [Nelspruit](/source/Nelspruit), South Africa | death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|07|12|1947|3|23|df=yes}} | death_place = [Nelspruit](/source/Nelspruit), South Africa | occupation = Recording artist, jazz fusion | years_active = 1970–2017 | spouse = Daphney Phiri (deceased) | children = 3 sons, 5 daughters | signature = | website = | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | instrument = Vocals, guitar ([Fender Stratocaster](/source/Fender_Stratocaster)) | genre = [Jazz](/source/Jazz), [jazz fusion](/source/jazz_fusion), [reggae](/source/reggae), [mbaqanga](/source/mbaqanga) | label = [Gallo](/source/Gallo_Record_Company), [Barclay](/source/Barclay_Records) | associated_acts = [Stimela](/source/Stimela_(music_band)), "Just Now" Phiri, [Paul Simon](/source/Paul_Simon), Mpharanyana, the Cannibals, Nana Coyote }} }} '''Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri''' (23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017) was a South African [jazz](/source/South_African_jazz), [fusion](/source/jazz_fusion) and [mbaqanga](/source/mbaqanga) musician{{sfn|Mojapelo|2008|p=136}} born in [Mpumalanga](/source/Mpumalanga) to Thabethe Phiri, a Malawian immigrant worker, and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He was a founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970s. When the Cannibals disbanded Ray founded [Stimela](/source/Stimela_(music_band)), with whom he conceived gold and platinum-selling albums like ''Fire, Passion and {{sic|?|hide=y|Ecs|tacy}}'' (1984), ''Look, Listen and Decide'' (1986). He collaborated with [Paul Simon](/source/Paul_Simon) and [Ladysmith Black Mambazo](/source/Ladysmith_Black_Mambazo) on Simon's ''[Graceland](/source/Graceland_(album))'' (1986) album. ==Career== Ray Phiri was born near [Nelspruit](/source/Nelspruit) in the then [Eastern Transvaal](/source/Eastern_Transvaal), now [Mpumalanga Province](/source/Mpumalanga_Province), in South Africa. In 1985, [Paul Simon](/source/Paul_Simon) asked Ray along with [Ladysmith Black Mambazo](/source/Ladysmith_Black_Mambazo) and other South African musicians to join his ''[Graceland](/source/Graceland_(album))'' (1986) 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](/source/The_Rhythm_of_the_Saints)'' (1990), which saw him perform in over 30 nations during 1990 and 1991, including in ''[Paul Simon's Concert in the Park](/source/Paul_Simon's_Concert_in_the_Park)'' (1991) and at New York's [Madison Square Garden](/source/Madison_Square_Garden), as well as appearing on ''[Saturday Night Live](/source/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 a 2011 interview with ''[The Sunday Times](/source/The_Sunday_Times_(South_Africa))'' Phiri said that there was "bad blood" between him and Simon. 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". 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." In 2012, Simon organised a European Graceland 25th Anniversary Tour in which Phiri also contributed his voice, guitar and leadership. ==Personal life and death== Phiri was involved in a series of car accidents which affected his personal life and musical career. In 1987 he was badly injured in a crash that claimed the lives of his band manager and six others. In 2003, his wife was killed in a car accident, but Ray escaped serious injury. Phiri was diagnosed with [lung cancer](/source/lung_cancer) and died at the age of 70 on 12 July 2017 at a Nelspruit hospital. A memorial service for Phiri was held at the [Mbombela Stadium](/source/Mbombela_Stadium) in Nelspruit on 20 July, and the funeral service took place at the same venue two days later. ==Achievements== Phiri has received many awards in recognition for his contribution in the music industry, one of these is the [Order of Ikhamanga](/source/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. In 2024 the University of South Africa posthumously conferred Phiri with a doctor of philosophy in music.{{cite web | url=https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/News-&-Media/Announcements/Unisa-to-honour-late-South-African-music-doyen-Ray-Chikapa-Phiri-with-a-philosophy-doctorate | title=Unisa honours late South African music doyen, Ray Chikapa Phiri, with a philosophy doctorate }} ==Discography== ===With Mpharanyana and the Cannibals=== * 1976: ''Zion Soul'' * 1977: ''Disco Bump'' * 1978: ''Nka Nako Ho Motseba'' * 1979: ''Ulunywa Izinja'' ===With The Cannibals=== * 1979: ''Get Funky'' * 1980: ''Total Rejection'' * 1981: ''I'm Tired of the Past'' * 1981: ''Put Your Dancing Shoes On'' ===With Stimela === * 1982: ''Mama Wami'' * 1982: ''Stimela'' * 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'' * 1994: ''Don't Ask Why'' * 2003: ''Steam Tracks'' ("Best of" compilation) * 2010: ''A Lifetime...'' * 2010: ''Live in Concert 25 Years'' ===Solo=== * 1992: ''People Don't Talk, So Let's Talk'' * 1999: ''How'' * 2000: ''Chikapa's 11 Years'' == See also == * [Dan Tshanda](/source/Dan_Tshanda) ==References== {{Reflist|refs= {{Cite web | title = Raymond (Ray) Chikapa Phiri | author = | work = South African History Online | date = | access-date = 15 November 2015 | url = http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/raymond-ray-chikapa-phiri | language = | quote = }} {{Cite web | title = Ray Phiri in accident, wife killed | work = The M&G Online | date = 19 November 2003 | access-date = 15 November 2015 | url = http://mg.co.za/article/2003-11-19-ray-phiri-in-accident-wife-killed | quote = }} {{Cite web | title = Phiri's tragic life of car accidents | last1 = Samayende | first1 = Sizwe | last2 = Arenstein | first2 = Justin | work = City Press | date = 23 November 2003 | access-date = 15 November 2015 | url = http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/citypress/2003/11/23/C1/4/01.html | language = af | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140518172421/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/citypress/2003/11/23/C1/4/01.html | archive-date = 18 May 2014 | df = dmy-all }} {{Cite web | title = Billionaire funds Ray Phiri's Aus visit | author = | work = Channel24 | date = 19 May 2011 | access-date = 15 November 2015 | url = http://www.channel24.co.za/Music/News/Billionaire-funds-Ray-Phiris-Aus-visit-20110519 | language = | quote = }} {{Cite web | title = PHOTOS: Ray Phiri memorial service | author = | work = Channel24 | date = 20 July 2017 | access-date = 20 July 2017 | url = http://www.channel24.co.za/The-Juice/News/photos-ray-phiri-memorial-service-20170720}} {{cite news|title=Music veteran Ray Phiri has died|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2017-07-12-music-veteran-ray-phiri-has-died-reports/|date=12 July 2017|access-date=12 July 2017|newspaper=[TimesLive](/source/The_Sunday_Times_(South_Africa))}} {{cite news|last=Temkin|first=Nikki|title=Our most touching interview with Ray Phiri|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2017-07-12-our-most-touching-interview-with-ray-phiri/|date=12 July 2017|access-date=13 July 2017|newspaper=[TimesLive](/source/The_Sunday_Times_(South_Africa))}} {{cite news|title=Ray Phiri, South African jazz musician who performed with Paul Simon, dies at 70|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ray-phiri-south-african-jazz-musician-who-performed-with-paul-simon-dies-at-70/2017/07/12/09df92ae-671c-11e7-8eb5-cbccc2e7bfbf_story.html|date=12 July 2017|access-date=13 July 2017|newspaper=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)}} {{Cite web | title = Music legend Ray Phiri laid to rest | author = | work = [HeraldLive](/source/The_Herald_(South_Africa)) | date = 22 July 2017 | access-date = 23 July 2017 | url = http://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2017/07/22/music-legend-ray-phiri-laid-rest/}} {{Cite web | title = Watch: Ray Phiri's Mother Celebrates His Life | author = | work = [EWN](/source/Eyewitness_News_(South_Africa)) | date = 24 July 2017 | access-date = 31 July 2017 | url = http://ewn.co.za/2017/07/24/watch-ray-phiri-s-mother-celebrates-his-life/}} }} {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|last=Mojapelo|first=Max |title=Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x-KW9f02oNMC|year=2008|publisher=African Minds|isbn=978-1-920299-28-6}} *{{cite book|last1=Barlow |first1=Sean |last2=Eyre|first2=Banning |last3=Vartoogian|first3=Jack |title=Afropop!: An Illustrated Guide to Contemporary African Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCzaAAAAMAAJ|year=1995|publisher=Chartwell Books|isbn=978-0-7858-0443-7}} {{refend}} == External links == *[http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=138 Profile on music.org.za] *[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chikapa-ray-phiri-mn0000534184 Profile on allmusic.com] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Phiri, Ray}} Category:1947 births Category:2017 deaths Category:People from Mbombela Category:South African jazz guitarists Category:Recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga Category:Lead guitarists Category:South African people of Malawian descent Category:Deaths from lung cancer in South Africa Category:20th-century South African male singers Category:South African jazz singers Category:South African male jazz musicians Category:21st-century South African male singers Category:English-language South African singers --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ray Phiri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Phiri) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Phiri?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.