CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has announced the death of internationally acclaimed jazz musician Anthony 'Tony' Cedras on 29 January 2024, following his battle with emphysema.

According to South African Government News Agency, Cedras was honored in 2022 with the Ministerial Legacy Award for his remarkable contributions to South African music, particularly jazz, during the pre-democracy era.

Born in Elsies River, Cape Town, Cedras was a highly sought-after session musician who gained global recognition as part of the Graceland Show Band. His musical journey took him across the world, including his earlier involvement with the Amandla Cultural Ensemble while in exile. Cedras's relocation to Gaborone, Botswana, in the early 1980s marked a pivotal moment in his career, where he collaborated with trombonist and bandleader Jonas Gwangwa, the musical director of Amandla. This partnership led Cedras to perform in various countries across Africa, Europe, Canada, and Brazil.

His time in London connected him with a network of South African artists in the expatriate music scene, leading to the formation of the group Kintone in 1985. Cedras's musical talents caught the attention of Hugh Masekela, who recommended him to Paul Simon for the Graceland project. Cedras's collaboration with Simon spanned several tours, including the "Born at the Right Time" tour between 1987 and 1992.

Cedras's illustrious career also included working closely with icons like Masekela and Miriam Makeba, as well as touring with Harry Belafonte in 1993 and Henry Threadgill in 1994. Anroux Marais, Western Cape MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, expressed the government's and her personal condolences, stating, "Tony Cedras will be sorely missed, but his sound will live on. He was a true jazz legend."