Syd Kitchen

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Biography

Sydney Stanley Kitchen (14 February 1951 - 22 March 2011) was a South African guitarist, singer-songwriter and poet. Because of his uncompromising attitude towards the music industry he became an iconic figure in his native South Africa, and also around the world, albeit in relatively small circles. Up until his death he was the only artist to perform at every single Splashy Fen festival. He was known for the socio-political messages of his lyrics, while the title of his 2001 album, Africa's Not for Sissies, became one of the most popular one-liners in South Africa.

Kitchen's career of over 45 years as a performing musician gave him a richly-varied musical background. He was involved in a host of musical ventures that included Harry was a Snake (an experimental acoustic outfit), Curry and Rice with guitarist Steve Newman, the seven-piece jazz outfit Equinoxe, Bafo Bafo with zulu maskanda guitarist Madala Kunene, The Aquarian Quartet with fellow aquarians Tony Cox, Steve Newman and Greg Georgiades and of course his own solo career.

Since the 70's, guitarist/ singer/ songwriter SYD KITCHEN was an innovative, active, non-compromising part of the South African musical landscape. He was a highly-acclaimed teacher, thinker and published poet, he performed extensively at Festivals and clubs throughout South Africa, both solo and with various combinations.

He released several critically acclaimed albums; all born of an eclectic, curious spirit unfazed by market-place considerations or the wishes of others.

This eclecticism and freedom of spirit has seen his musical journey traverse the KITCHEN BROTHERS, through EQUINOX, HARRY WAS A SNAKE, THE UTENSILS, THE FLYING SOMBREROS, to his his most recent collaborations in AMAKOOL, the AQUARIAN QUARTET (with Steve Newman, Greg Georgiades and Tony Cox) and BAFO BAFO (with Madala Kunene).

SYD KITCHEN lived in Durban, South Africa, where he taught music while reading for his MA/Ph.D. in Musicology with the University of KwaZulu Natal.

Syd Kitchen biography provided by last.fm.