Ray Phiri

Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri (born 23 March 1947) is a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga to Malawian immigrant worker and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He became founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970s. When the Cannibals disbanded Ray founded Stimela, with whom he conceived gold and platinum-selling albums like Fire, Passion and Ecstacy (1991), Look, Listen and Decide (1992) as well as the controversial People Don't Talk So Let's Talk.

Early years

Ray Phiri was born near Nelspruit in East Transvaal, now the modern-day Mpumalanga province, in South Africa. In 1985, Paul Simon asked Ray along with Ladysmith Black Mambazo to join his Graceland project, which was successful and also helped the South African musicians to make names for themselves abroad. Ray was to collaborate with Paul Simon again on Simon's Rhythm of the Saints album, which saw him perform on stages such as Central Park and Madison Square Garden as well as appearing on top television shows in the USA. In 2012 Paul Simon organised a Graceland anniversary tour which Ray also participated in.