Durban-based jazz legend Sipho Gumede died in Durban on Monday after a short illness, SABC news reported. The managing director of Sheer Sounds, Don Gaile, has confirmed his death. Speaking on UKHOZI FM earlier, Gaile said Gumede’s death was a great loss to the nation.
Gumede was born in Cato Manor, Durban. His earliest memories, according to the Smooth Jazz website, was playing his homemade guitar and the pennywhistle.
Gumede met the great jazz guitarist Cyril Magubane when he was 16, who introduced him to the music of Wes Montgomery. He also landed a job with the Jazz Revellers, and started playing bass, according to the website.
The Sowetan newspaper on Tuesday quoted Skido Naidoo, a friend of Gumede’s, who said the guitarist was admitted to the Parkland hospital in Durban on Sunday last week, and had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Naidoo said it appeared as if Gumede had recovered, but over the weekend his condition deteriorated.