Musician extraordinaire Dr. Philip Tabane dies at 84! #RIPPhilipTabane

Not long after the passing of the Legendary Hugh Masekela, Mom Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Sam Nzima the much talked about photographer relating to the June 16th 1976 famous photo of Hector Pieterson.

Today (18/05/2018) it has been confirmed by several publications that Legendary South African guitarists Dr. Philip Nchipi Tabane has died at the age of 84. He died at the Mamelodi hospital in Pretoria on Friday morning.

WHO IS DR. PHILIP NCHIPI TABANE

Dr. Philip Nchipi Tabane, musician extraordinaire was one such South African who falls within that category of a small group of people that we could aptly call pure genius. Dr. Tabane grew up in Mamelodi East of Tshwane, in a musical family – his mother was a traditional healer who taught him traditional music.

In 1998, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Venda. A doctorate of Philosophy in Music degree was conferred on Dr Philip Nchipi Tabane by The University of Venda in 1998 and he was also a winner of the Best Single for 1998 at the Annual FNB Samas for his single Ke a Bereka.

Although Dr Tabane was known more as a guitarist than anything else, he started off by playing flute, drums and the Mbila, a thumb piano. Through that earlier experience in his musical development, Tabane has been able to do the virtually impossible: to fuse ancient African rhythms with western instruments in a manner that doesn’t cheapen the former.

This fusion of sounds and worlds is what made world renowned musicians like Miles Davis stand in queues to play with Tabane, an event which happened at the Kiston Corner Jazz Club in San Francisco. This was during a four-year sojourn in the United States in the early 1970s. This, Tabane says is by far his most memorable performance in that land.

In 1963 and 1964, Tabane took part in the Castle Lager Jazz Contest, which he won with his trio two times – in 1963 with an interpretation of Bags’ groove . Dr Philip Nchipi Tabane was awarded the South African Music Awards (SAMA) Lifetime Achievement Prize.

#1.

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of one of South Africa’s most innovative Jazz Guitarists, described as a quintessential African performer Dr Phillip Tabane. He held two honorary doctorates in music & was a part of @ArtsCultureSA‘s Living Legends Legacy Programme pic.twitter.com/usiKt4eqBa

— Arts & Culture (@ArtsCultureSA) May 18, 2018

#2.

RIP Ntate Phillip Tabane??#MALOMBO pic.twitter.com/IdR3ZXUYXj

— Zola Edom (@ZolaZeeMan) May 18, 2018

#3.

Renowned musician Dr Phillip Tabane has passed away at the age 84 #RIPPhillipTabane pic.twitter.com/aLstPpIn0h

— Kaya FM News (@KayaNews) May 18, 2018

#4.

Aa Noo.This is sad news.Losing Dr Phillip Tabane just few months away after parting ways with one of own Hugh Masikela.
May the soul of Dr Tabane rest in peace.

— Jacob Lekoba (@LekobaJacob) May 18, 2018

#5.