By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Afro-jazz bassist, singer and composer – Kelly Rusike – has died in Harare on Wednesday after succumbing to diabetes.
The veteran musician, who comes from a musical family, was 59.
Kelly started out a career in music in the 1970s according to music writer Joyce Jenje-Makwenda in her book Zimbabwe Township Music.
Together with brothers Tawanda, Phil, Abius and Colleen – they were collectively known as the Rusike Brothers.
Their father Abiathar Rusike was a teacher, journalist and musician who moulded his sons into music superstars.
Grandfather, the Reverend Mathew Rusike, was a famous clergyman, humanitarian and philanthropist well known for his charity work with underprivileged children. The Zimbabwean footballer Mathew Rusike is the late Kelly’s nephew, and was named after his great grandfather.
The Rusike Brothers rose to prominence in the 1980s, performing a number of hits including Cecelia, a cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s and Saturday Night as well as the song Ngwerewere, a television commercial for the mealie-meal brand by the then Blue Ribbon milling company.
The hugely successful commercial opened up the group to a cosmopolitan crowd.
Like most of the group that emerged at the time, the Rusike Brothers were largely influenced by the Jackson Five, an American pop band that consisted of the brothers Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Marion and Michael, the youngest.
Kelly who doubled as a music producer left the Rusike Brothers as he was more into Afro-jazz and wanted to explore features of African Rhythms.
Kelly was like the cog in the group Jazz Invitation Band that features actress and songstress Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, keyboardist Filbert Marowa, drummer Sam Mataure and Victor Duarte.
Whevener Prudence was away on other business, vocalist Patience Musa would fit in her shoes while South Africa based lead guitarist Louis Mhlanga would also jam with the group.
Jazz Invitation members have performed on global platforms sharing the stage with big names from Miriam Makeba, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Rosalla Miller to Louis Mhlanga to Randy Crawford, UB 40, Ringo Mandlingozi and others.
The group also performed at the prestigious Italian Jazz Festival and Harare Jazz Festival sharing the stage with Hugh Masekela and Amanda La Banda from Italy.
They have also had a three-month stint at the prestigious L’Attitude, Ruwais in the United Arab Emirates in 2015.
Kelly has two solo albums out in his name; Collaboration and the more recent Ikosore.
As a bassist and vocalist, Kelly had a six-month stint in Ibiza, Spain from April to October 2017 with the renowned Lucy and Phillips band.
He also had another six-month stint with the same band in Mallorca, Spain in 2018 which he says got him a global musical experience.
Kelly is survived by his wife Yolanda and two children — Cole and Courtney.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course and mourners are gathered in Highlands.
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