Lucky Dube

Originally a singer in the traditional South African mbaganga style, Lucky Dube switched his style to reggae in the early 1980s and became extremely successful worldwide. His sound continued the laid-back traditions of the '70s, generally focusing on traditional Roots Reggae. His political views (expressed on albums such as Rasta Never Die and Slave) led to problems with the South African government, who banned his early recordings from the airwaves but were unsuccessful at blocking his messages of liberation, justice and equal rights -- messages which have traveled throughout much of Africa since. His rich, deep vocals owe a debt to Peter Tosh, and generally sound best when he is not aiming for over-commercialization. On October 18th, 2007, Dube was shot and killed in a botched car-jacking in Johannesburg in front of his teenage son and daughter. He was just 42 years-old.