Grazing In The Grass Hugh Masekela Views
The Friends of Distinction recorded a vocal cover version of the tune in 1969 which was also a Top Ten pop and R&B hit, reaching #3 on the former and #5 on the latter.[4] The group's Harry Elston penned lyrics for the song and sang lead on it.[5] Grazing in the Grass has been recorded by many other musicians, including Stevie Wonder, Chet Atkins, Galapagos Duck, Boney James, Rick Braun, Willie Mitchell, The Monitors, The Scofflaws, Meco, and cc: DIVA. In 2004 it was covered by Raven-Symoné; her version was played on Radio Disney but never received a general commercial release as a single for airplay in other venues. The video for her version features her and dancing extras interacting with scenes from The Lion King 1½. It is also a staple in the repertoire of New Orleans brass bands.
At the end of 1959, Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim), Kippie Moeketsi, Makhaya Ntshoko, Johnny Gertze and Hugh formed the Jazz Epistles, the first African jazz group to record an LP and perform to record-breaking audiences in Johannesburg and Cape Town through late 1959 to early 1960. Following the March 21, 1960, Sharpeville Massacre - where 69 peacefully protesting Africans were shot dead in Sharpeville, and the South African government banned gatherings of ten or more people - and the increased brutality of the Apartheid state, Masekela left the country. He was helped by Trevor Huddleston and international friends like Yehudi Menuhin and John Dankworth, who got him admitted into London's Guildhall School of Music. During that period, he visited the United States, where he was befriended by Harry Belafonte. He attended Manhattan School of Music in New York where he studied classical trumpet from 1960-64.
In 2010, Hugh Masekela was featured, with his son Salema, in a series of videos on ESPN. The series, called Umlando - Through my Father's Eyes , was aired in 10 parts during ESPN's coverage of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The series focused on Hugh and Sal's travels through South Africa. Hugh brought his son to the places he grew up. It was Sal's first trip to his father's homeland.[8]
Hugh Masekela made a remarkable journey from apartheid South Africa to the music scene in New York City, where he struck gold with Grazin' in the Grass. After his musical success, the trumpeter faced personal turbulence and an eventual return to his transformed homeland. NPR's Neal Conan talks with Masekela.
Grazing In The Grass Hugh Masekela Images
