Lucky Dube: Reggae Star Killed in South Africa Carjacking

[SOS]

Source: New York Times

The New York Times, October 20, 2007

October 20, 2007
Reggae Star Killed in South Africa Carjacking

By MICHAEL WINES
JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 19 — A team of gunmen shot and killed Lucky Dube, an international reggae star and one of the nation’s best-known musicians, apparently in a carjacking attempt late Thursday that underscored the continuing peril of violent crime here.

The police said Mr. Dube, 43, was shot by three assailants in Rosettenville, just south of downtown Johannesburg, as he dropped off his 15-year-old son at his brother’s house. Mr. Dube’s son was in the car at the time, they said.

The attackers fled after Mr. Dube crashed his Chrysler into a tree. He died at the scene.

On Friday, Mr. Dube’s Web site, luckydubemusic.com, said his death “leaves a great void in the music industry as 25 years of music suddenly ends in tragedy.”

Mr. Dube began as a singer of traditional African songs but swept to international stardom in the 1980s when he began singing reggae. He recorded 22 albums during his career and worked with Peter Gabriel, Seal and other Western singers, but he spent most of his time in Africa, where his base of fans was strongest.

He is survived by a wife and seven children.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/africa/20safrica.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=world&pagewanted=print

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Heartbreaking.