I was informed today by a friend in South Africa that Ray Phiri had passed away. He was a beautiful, masterful guitarist and an inventive musician. He will be remembered as a patriot who used his music to fight apartheid and brought that message to the world. His contribution to Graceland was immense and I am grateful and honored to have worked with him.
Paul Simon, July 12, 10:31 AM. RAY PHIRI 1947-2017
Remembering Ray Phiri, South African musician 1947 â 2017
Paul Comacho wrote a great primer about Paul Simonâs Graceland album, The Rich History (and Controversy) of Paul Simonâs âGracelandâ.  Comacho writes  how Simon made an emotional connection to a bootleg cassette tape of South African music a friend had given him.Â
Itâs unlikely the South African  musicians who met Simon in Johannesburg's Ovation Studios knew that Paul Simon had a reputation for being difficult to work with. But they undoubtedly understood the decision to work with Simon was fraught.Â
Lifeâs compex. The same year âGracelandâ was released, Stimela--Original Stimela:Ray Phiri, lead guitar, lead vocals Isaac "Mnca" Mtshali, drummer Thabo Lloyd Lelosa, keyboards Jabu Sibumbe - bass guitar Nana Coyote - lead vocals Thapelo Kgomo - keyboards Charlie Ndlovu - organ Ntokozo Zungu - lead guitar--released an album, âLook, Listen and Decide.â One of the tracks, âWhispers in the Deepâ has the Phiri penned lyric:
 âWeâre all tributaries of this great river of pain/ Flowing into one ocean/ Thereâs only one motion/ All our pains flow into it/ But it did spill over/ Spill over the waters of love/ Into a great nation of love/ Before we recognise that all the oceans are one.â
Phiri sang his joy, his great artistry was to encourage all of us to know the value in speaking our stories.  Ray Phiri  was a leading light.