Singer Miriam Makeba, 'Mama Africa,' Dies in Italy

Posted on Nov 10th 2008 12:00PM by Gaylord Fields
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Miriam Makeba, who emerged from the repressive apartheid system of her native South Africa to become an international sensation, has died in Italy. The folk-jazz vocalist reportedly succumbed to a heart attack that occurred immediately following a performance at an anti-Mafia concert held outside Naples. She was 76 years old.

Born in Johannesburg, the Grammy Award-winning singer nicknamed Mama Africa was best known for her song "Pata Pata," sung in the Xhosa language, which reached No. 12 on the Billboard singles chart in 1967. Her husbands included trumpeter Hugh Masekela, a fellow countryman, as well as African-American activist Stokely Carmichael.

A fervent voice against the institutionalized racism of the white-minority South African government, Makeba was stripped of her citizenship in the early '60s and exiled. Soon enough, however, she would become a citizen of the world -- both figuratively and literally -- as many nations offered her both passports and safe harbor.

Dearly Departed Musicians

Island Def Jam executive Shakir Stewart, who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z's departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. Police say he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 34 years old.

Rock and jazz keyboardist Merl Saunders, who recorded albums with music titans like The Grateful Dead and Miles Davis, died at the age of 74 on Oct. 24 after complications from a stroke.

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Soul songstress Dee Dee Warwick died on Oct. 18 after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.

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Levi Stubbs, Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Baby I Need Your Loving" died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.

Nick Reynolds, Oct. 1: The Kingston Trio led the folk music uprising in the late 1950s, paving the way for the Dylans and the Baezs of the world. Reynolds, right with Dave Guard and Bob Shane, had been in the hospital with acute respiratory disease before his family took him off life support. He was 75.

Norman Whitfield, Sept. 16: The Motown tunesmith responsible for anthems like 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' 'Car Wash' and 'War' died shortly after awakening from a diabetes-related coma. He was 67.

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Richard Wright, Sept. 15: With Pink Floyd, he unleashed new sounds from his collection of synths and organs that gave the band its signature psychedelic sheen. Wright, who also wrote mammoth cuts like "Us and Them" for the band, died following a battle with cancer. He was 65.

Jerry Reed, Sept. 2: He started off as a guitarist, eventually had a string of country hits and also made the jump to the big screen with successful turns in Burt Reynolds films like 'Smokey and the Bandit' and 'Gator.' Reed lost a battle to emphysema at 71.

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Steve Foley, Aug. 23: The bespeckled drummer from Minneapolis will always be known as the replacement Replacement for his brief tenure after Chris Mars left the beloved band in 1990. His death at 49 is being attributed to an accidental prescription drug overdose. He appeared in one video for the band, the visually quirky 'When It Began,' pictured.

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LeRoi Moore, Aug. 19: As a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, Moore's saxaphone playing helped propel the band's sound to major success. He was 46.