Award winning Gospel singer Deborah Fraser has died

Entertainment /15 May 2022, 16:37pm/ Simamkele May

The late Gospel star Deborah Fraser:image supplied

Bloemfontein: Multi award winning Gospel star Deborah Fraser has passed away.

Fraser died at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon after a short illness.

She began her music career in 1985, as a backing singer, and recorded her own album in the year 2000, titled Abanye bayombona, The album which has sold over 1 million copies making her one of the best gospel star in the country.

After her debut album Fraser released many albums such as Udlalile Ngabantu, Giloria, Isililo, Umsamaria, Awusenasabelo, Umqhele, Thanksgiving and Uhambo.

In her music career She won the first SABC Crown Gospel Music award in the Best Female Artist category, among other awards SAMA for best gospel, Metro award for best gospel, and Kora for best gospel artist.

Meanwhile Cultural and Creative Industries of SA (CCIFSA) president Joy Mbewana confirmed to Free State Insider, that Fraser was no more. Mbewana, who was among the people who assisted Fraser after she came out of hospital in April, said the singer died at about noon on Sunday.

The news of Fraser’s passing was further confirmed by a family friend who was at the hospital with the family when it happened. “Debra has died. Her body is being moved as we speak to the mortuary of the hospital,” the friend said.

Mbewana said: “After she came out of hospital early in April, Silapha Wellness programme organised a psychologist for her and she told me that she wanted to go with me to those sessions. She wanted to get better so that she can start working. But things got worse last week when she suffered a stroke. I am hurt because she wanted to share her experience as a woman in the music industry with young artists.”

She added: “Debra was a talented artist and we are not going to hear that velvet voice again. She had her own unique voice. She was kind-hearted and always willing to help people. She was concerned that many artists were struggling and not making any income.”

According to her friends, Fraser, 56, had been critically ill for the past seven days.

The singer who is known for hits like Abanye Bayombona and Hamba Sathane has been struggling with diabetes for years.

In February this year, she spent weeks at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. After she recovered from the serious diabetic attack she could not walk and had to be confined to a wheelchair, while she also struggled with night blindness.

Free State Insider