One year ago today,  on March 15, 2010, Sam Mtukudzi and his friend Owen Chimhare died in a car accident on their way to Norton. To commemorate the anniversary of Sam's passing away, Zimbo Jam compiled this list of memories that people have about him.

Selmor Mtukudzi
Musician, Sister to Sam

Sam was a fun guy. He was always there for ma Birthdays edu, even though aiwuya hake asina mapresent, he’d be there and there first thing he’d ask about was if the food was ready.

I remember how he’d always cover for me. When Tendai (her husband) and I had our first child we had a series of gigs lined up and Sam dropped his plans to take them up for us.

On the other hand he’d also offer us ma gigs when he couldn’t take them up. The very last time I spoke to him he was telling me about a gig that had opened up in Mozambique. He said that he couldn’t go.  He said, ‘Kune gig ramuka ku Moza. Parikubuda US$1 500. Saka ndikaku chestera iwe wotora thaza wondipa five waya.”

I also remember how he’d come to our shows, inini naTendai, and stand near the stage yelling for us to play ‘Gona’, his favourite song. Ya, he was a fun guy.

Tendai Manatsa
Musician , Brother in Law to Sam

Sam aka vhaya ne shirt yangu (Sam went with my shirt). We were doing a gig at Sports diner and he didn’t have time to go back home to change so he asked for my shirt. I gave it to him and he never had a chance to give it back.

But akandivhara zvinhu zvakawanda Sam (Come to think of it he never gave me a lot of my things back). Selmor aizviziva kuti ndostyra dzake asi haana kuchimbidza kundi tipa (His sister Selmor knew about his tricks but she didn’t tip me till it was too late).

He used to call me ‘Bomba’, aah ya – he was mature for his age, Sam- his music, his lyrics. It was as if he knew he was going.

Charles Chipanga
Musician (member of Tuku’s Black Spirits)

Sam features on my upcoming album. He played the guitar on the song Anondivhenekera and the saxophone and guitar on Muvabatsire. When I listen to the songs, it makes him (Sam) alive to me. I miss his creativity and dedication. He was an easy going chap.

Shepherd Mutamba
Publicist for Tuku Music

The level of Sam’s intellect, philosophy and power of artistic creativity was legendary for someone his age, only 21.

Even Tuku always averred that when he himself was 21 he had not achieved as much as Sam had at the same age, both materially and artistically.
Sam never really struggled with the writing and arranging of music. His arrangement, in my own view, was even much more complex than Tuku’s own, although the two drew inspiration from the same acoustic based sound and daily life experiences.

I sat on the board of Pakare Paye Arts Centre with Sam. He was the youngest director but his input and ideas far surpassed most of our own ideas, yet ndisu madhara acho.
He never rode on the fame and success of his father and mother. He did not want to be judged as Tuku’s son but simply as just another guy next door trying to make a living.

He was so down to earth he would ride in a kombi and nobody would notice him. Here was a young man who performed in the world’s capitals yet he would also happily play for the people in some small bars somewhere in Bindura.

A down to earth fine young man, unassuming, extremely smart, charming, loveable and of course handsome.

Penny Yon
Arts Administrator – Pamberi Trust, Book Café, The Mannenberg

The team at Pamberi Trust, Book Café and Mannenberg remember watching Sam's progress, and noting with pleasure that even as he grew to achieve success in Zimbabwe and beyond, he remained humble and grateful for the opportunities that came his way, giving respect where respect was due, and falling in with the wider programme like all other artists in the musical family.

Hope Masike
Musician, Music Teacher
I always wish one could leave their talent with someone else when they die. After all the hard work to become such a force to reckon with in the African music scene, all the talent and the passion just disappeared one day. We really lost a great musician there and we miss him.

- See more memories on Zimbo Jam