Minister Grange’s Response to Death of Lucky Dube

“Jamaica is indeed saddened to learn of the death of South Africa’s reggae singer/performer, Lucky Dube, who was shot and killed on Thursday (Oct 18) in a hijacking in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The world has lost another great talent with his untimely death. We have lost another great reggae ambassador whose work was inspired by our own reggae giants – Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. Of these three reggae greats, it was Peter Tosh on whom Lucky Dube modeled and developed his South African version of reggae music – a version that the entire world and especially we in Jamaica have grown to love. His politically conscious lyrics, with their strong messages, will continue to inspire and influence his wide ranging international fan-base.
This great artist recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans over the last 25-years and was South Africa’s biggest selling reggae artist. As someone who has been involved in the music industry for many years, I had the good fortune and pleasure of seeing Lucky Dube perform not only here in Jamaica at the recent Cricket World Cup 2007, but on the international stages in Europe, Africa and the United States.
His family should find strength and comfort in knowing that he lives on forever through his much which he has given to the world”.