Many had admired their talents, others have envied them. It was all for daring to be what their peers were dreaming to be. Unfortunately, they were suddenly snatched away by death, leaving behind deep pains, and anguish. Ironically, these famous musicians through their works, are even becoming more celebrated today than when they were alive. imagines what they would have done more, if they had lived a few more years.
Below is the list of musical legends who died before the age of 60.
1. Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti, also known simply as Fela, was a musical icon and legend who is credited with founding Afrobeat, which mixes Nigerian music, Ghanaian music, jazz, funk, and other elements. But aside from being a hugely influential and talented musician, Fela was also a political activist who used his music to critique the Nigerian government and its lack of investment in the health and education of Nigerian people.
Kuti unfortunately died of AIDS-related complications on August 2, 1997, at the age of 58, in Lagos, Nigeria. Roughly 1 million people attended his funeral procession, which began at Tafawa Balewa Square and ended at Kuti’s home, Kalakuta, in Ikeja, Nigeria, where he was laid to rest in the front yard.
He left a legacy that has lived on and survived for decades with his songs maintaining their relevance today and his children pushing his signature activism through music as perfected by their father.
2. Bob Marley
was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and musician. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska , and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style. Marley’s contributions to music increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide, and made him a global figure in popular culture for over a decade.
Bob Marley passed away at the Cedars Of Lebanon Hospital in Miami on May 11, 1981 At the age of 36.
Marley died from an acral lentiginous melanoma, which is a form of skin cancer. He first discovered the spot on his leg when he was playing football, but felt it was just a normal football injury.
When it later became worse, his doctor advised him to cut of his leg to prevent the cancer from spreading to his entire body but he refused saying it was against is Rastafarian faith to have any part of the body ‘temple’ removed. Instead, he agreed to a skin graft, but sadly this didn’t stop the disease spreading throughout his body.
His burial was attend by many Jamaicans and it even had The eulogy delivered by the then Prime Minister of Jamaica Edward Seaga.
3. Lucky Dube
Lucky Philip Dube was a South African reggae musician and Rastafarian . He recorded 22 albums in Zulu , English and
Afrikaans in a 25-year period and was South Africa’s biggest-selling reggae artist.
Lucky Dube was one of the first African artists to bring African reggae to the mainstream, Dube bridged cultural gaps within the African diaspora.
His death was quite a painful one, On 18 October 2007, Lucky Dube was killed by robbers at a Johannesburg suburb called Rosettenville. Shortly after dropping two of his seven children off at their uncle’s house. The killers who later confessed to be car hijackers said they didn’t easily recognize him, they thought he was a Nigerian.
Lucky Dube died at the age of 43 and news of his death shocked the whole world. The burial was attended by thousands to pay their final respect to the African reggae legend.
4. Michael Jackson
Born in August 1958, Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Dubbed the ” King of Pop”, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Through stage and video performances, he popularized complicated dance moves such as the moonwalk , to which he gave the name, and the robot . His sound and style have influenced artists of various genres, and his contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Jackson is the most awarded artist in the history of popular music. I doubt if there’s anyone who didn’t know who Michael Jackson was.
Though he had the fame and popularity what Michael lacked was the key to long life. Michael Jackson died in June 25th 2009 at the age of 50.
The Singer died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication at his home on North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.
His death brought tears to many of his fans around the world as he was seen as the greatest musician and dance legend to ever lived in our time.
5. Majek Fashek
Majekodunmi Fasheke also known as Majek Fashek was a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist who was best known as the “Rain Maker” due to his hit single “send down the rain”.
Majek was so popular in the early 80s and 90s which made him work with music superstars from around the world such as Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg etc.
Besides his struggle with drug addiction, other health conditions required Fashek’s hospitalisation on several occasions.
Fashek died in his sleep on 1 June 2020 in New York City . He was 57, and was battling esophageal cancer.
His death was a huge blow to the music industry in Nigeria…..See More
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