Colin Shamley was one of the great musical commentators on life, love and politics in South Africa. I first met him at Dave and Franny’s house in High street, Berea, where I was squatting and selling zol to keep body and soul together. Colin was playing at Mangles and the first time I heard him it was a revelation. The skill, the words, the humour and the incisive view of our crazy world. One of my first gigs was opening for him at Mangles and I went down like a fart in a spacesuit to the mainly biker audience. But it didn’t take long to learn a few of the basic rules of the game from Colin, and I was up and running. I played at Mangles for a year before I recorded my first album. Colin recorded his master work ‘Born Guilty’ at about the same time and both albums received critical acclaim but few sales. “Born Guilty” is truly one of the greatest works ever to come out of this country. Colin died this morning after a long illness. Hamba Kahle Maestro.
Roger Lucey, from Jive Talking & Eyeballing
SugarMan.org 
Just saw this notice. I had the privilege of doing some work with Colin in 1974/75, for his then-proposed album “Taurus Moon”. I lost contact with him in the late 1970’s as I went on to other (non-musical) activities. I never performed live with him, but did some accompanying guitar and piano at several small impromptu folk gatherings at Wits University – usually with more of us performing than in the audience! A great poet and social commentator, Colin will be remembered by all those who knew him and had the joy of hearing his music.
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