To this day, I have a very clear recollection of the first time that I met Ray Chikapa Phiri. The year was 1989 and I was a senior reporter at The Star.
Stimela was in the process of recording the Trouble in the Land of Plenty album, and I met Ray at the Ferndale, Randburg, studio where they were recording.
As Ray emerged from the studio to meet me in a private room, he was an embodiment of warmth and friendship. Here was this superstar, who had toured around the world with American Paul Simon, and yet he made me, then a young reporter, totally comfortable with him. It was as if we had known each other for years.
When the story was subsequently published in The Little Spot, a short section then set aside for colour-story profiles on the leader page, Ray called me to express his happiness with the end product.
Some notable fans shed rays of light on Ray Phiri the music geniusThe unexpected death of Ray Phiri this week has left a void in the live-music stage.
We did not speak again until a decade later. My friend Sheriff Linda Molefe and his wife Mydudu had driven from Nelspruit to holiday in a coastal city. Sheriff received a call from Ray, a friend of his for many years, and he informed him that he was with me. He then handed the cellular phone to me and Ray and I exchanged pleasantries.
When I hosted friends and family in celebration of my 40th birthday in 2003, Sheriff came to the party at my home in Johannesburg with Ray and his daughter, Thulisile Phesheya Phiri.
As a birthday gift, Ray gave me a signed, handwritten note, which I was to take to his recording company in Rosebank, which would give me all his CDs. I duly did so.
Ray asked me to write his biography. He said that he had so much that he wanted to share with the country and the world in his biography.
WATCH: Here's how Ray Phiri won the hearts of SAAs news of veteran musician Ray Phiri’s death spreads‚ many have been reminded of the contribution he made to the music industry through hits released over the past three decades.
However, at the time I was frantically working on my own book, Incomplete Without My Brother, Adonis, whenever I had spare time.
When I told him this, he and I agreed that we would work on his biography as soon as I had finished my manuscript. When I finished the manuscript in November 2013 and sent it off to publishers, I informed Ray that I was then ready for us to start working on his biography. He undertook to make time for us to meet regularly so that he would tell me his life story as I recorded it. Regrettably, owing to his busy schedule, this did not happen right away.
There was an interesting profile of Ray Phiri published in the Mail & Guardian on April 21 this year. When I finished reading that article, I sent Ray the following text message at 22:13 that same day, which still remains on my phone: "My brother Ray, I hope that you are well. Reading the article on you in the Mail & Guardian has just reminded me of our long-standing arrangement for me to write your biography. I am now ready to do so when you have time. We will need to spend a lot of time together, talking while I record and/or take notes. Please let me know when you would like us to get started. Best regards, Kaizer".
Days went by without a reply from Ray. When I called him a few days later, I found both his numbers off and did not leave a message. However, some two or three weeks later, Ray phoned me: "Mfowethu Nyatsumba," he said when I answered the phone.
He explained that he had lost his phone and, as a result, he had lost many contacts' details. He had recently had a SIM swop and had then received my message of April 21.
Ray was delighted that I was now available to work with him on his biography. He undertook to make time for us to meet more often. Sadly, God had other plans for him.
I regret deeply the fact that Ray and I did not get to write and publish his biography before his passing. I wish I had time, when he first approached me in 2012.
The story of the phenomenal life of Ray Chikapa Phiri, an African musical genius and legend, needs to be told. I hope still to be able to tell that story one day, in collaboration with his daughter Thuli, his other children and friends.
Opinion: Phiri's story needs to be told, I regret missed opportunity
To this day, I have a very clear recollection of the first time that I met Ray Chikapa Phiri. The year was 1989 and I was a senior reporter at The Star.
Stimela was in the process of recording the Trouble in the Land of Plenty album, and I met Ray at the Ferndale, Randburg, studio where they were recording.
As Ray emerged from the studio to meet me in a private room, he was an embodiment of warmth and friendship. Here was this superstar, who had toured around the world with American Paul Simon, and yet he made me, then a young reporter, totally comfortable with him. It was as if we had known each other for years.
When the story was subsequently published in The Little Spot, a short section then set aside for colour-story profiles on the leader page, Ray called me to express his happiness with the end product.
We did not speak again until a decade later. My friend Sheriff Linda Molefe and his wife Mydudu had driven from Nelspruit to holiday in a coastal city. Sheriff received a call from Ray, a friend of his for many years, and he informed him that he was with me. He then handed the cellular phone to me and Ray and I exchanged pleasantries.
When I hosted friends and family in celebration of my 40th birthday in 2003, Sheriff came to the party at my home in Johannesburg with Ray and his daughter, Thulisile Phesheya Phiri.
As a birthday gift, Ray gave me a signed, handwritten note, which I was to take to his recording company in Rosebank, which would give me all his CDs. I duly did so.
Ray asked me to write his biography. He said that he had so much that he wanted to share with the country and the world in his biography.
However, at the time I was frantically working on my own book, Incomplete Without My Brother, Adonis, whenever I had spare time.
When I told him this, he and I agreed that we would work on his biography as soon as I had finished my manuscript. When I finished the manuscript in November 2013 and sent it off to publishers, I informed Ray that I was then ready for us to start working on his biography. He undertook to make time for us to meet regularly so that he would tell me his life story as I recorded it. Regrettably, owing to his busy schedule, this did not happen right away.
There was an interesting profile of Ray Phiri published in the Mail & Guardian on April 21 this year. When I finished reading that article, I sent Ray the following text message at 22:13 that same day, which still remains on my phone: "My brother Ray, I hope that you are well. Reading the article on you in the Mail & Guardian has just reminded me of our long-standing arrangement for me to write your biography. I am now ready to do so when you have time. We will need to spend a lot of time together, talking while I record and/or take notes. Please let me know when you would like us to get started. Best regards, Kaizer".
Days went by without a reply from Ray. When I called him a few days later, I found both his numbers off and did not leave a message. However, some two or three weeks later, Ray phoned me: "Mfowethu Nyatsumba," he said when I answered the phone.
He explained that he had lost his phone and, as a result, he had lost many contacts' details. He had recently had a SIM swop and had then received my message of April 21.
Ray was delighted that I was now available to work with him on his biography. He undertook to make time for us to meet more often. Sadly, God had other plans for him.
I regret deeply the fact that Ray and I did not get to write and publish his biography before his passing. I wish I had time, when he first approached me in 2012.
The story of the phenomenal life of Ray Chikapa Phiri, an African musical genius and legend, needs to be told. I hope still to be able to tell that story one day, in collaboration with his daughter Thuli, his other children and friends.
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