(We will skip this week’s featured artist in memory of another yet legend who has passed away.)
Tony Schilder was the 12th South African artist featured here on the Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions.
He sadly passed away around 7:30pm last night.
Goodbye, Gentle Man of jazz…
You are already missed.
The piano may be quiet, but the memories will live on…
Lynnette Johns wrote the following in The Argus:
Legendary jazz pianist Tony Schilder died at Booth Memorial Hospital in Cape Town last night after a long illness. He was 73.
Schilder, who started playing the piano at a young age, went on to make a name for himself as one of the greatest jazz musicians in the city. He was regularly referred to as the gentleman of jazz.
He was a band leader at Club Montreal in Manenberg and contributed to many jazz compilations.
Schilder came from a family of musicians. His mother was an accomplished musician, his father made a living as a musician and his brothers – Richard, Jackie, Philip and Chris – are all musicians, as is his son Hilton.
This year a number of his peers – Robbie Jansen, Winston Mankunku Ngozi and Ezra Ngcukana, trumpeter Alex van Heerden and vocalist Jeff Weiner have all died.
This morning Western Cape Musicians Association Chairman William Rezant said Schilder had been bed-ridden for two years. Two months ago he suffered a stroke and was treated at Somerset Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Val, and son, Hilton.
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Howzit-HongKong.com will feature a YouTube clip of one South African music legend every Friday as part of what we like to call The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions. I am fortunate to be living right next to one of the most stunning working harbours in the world… Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. I often find myself staring across the Harbour at night, with the lights dimmed and one of my favourite musicians from home over the speakers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do…
