Born 1967 in Ermelo, Eastern Transvaal, South Africa; name pronounced "doo bay". In a life of struggle, Lucky Dube has somehow discovered a forgiving heart, and he communicates that message to the people of his native South Africa and to a worldwide audience. His message expresses concern for women and children, and a hope for better communication between the races. Dube's status as a poor Zulu tribesman in racially torn South Africa gave him a unique perspective. He became one of the most important voices in international music by embracing reggae, the first South African black to achieve stardom in that genre. The decaying regime of apartheid in South Africa banned his album Rastas Never Die in 1985, but it could not stop his growing popularity or cause him to be bitter. Lucky Dube survived the changes in government to record four multi-platinum albums and win numerous awards. After apartheid ended, Dube addressed other social concerns, such as drug use and the rampant commercialization that threatens native cultures around the world. His music mixes social criticism with a joyous, ecstatic dance beat. He started his musical career as a traditional musician in 1979 and switched to reggae in 1984, cutting more than 20 albums and winning numerous musical awards. Dube was the first artist to introduce reggae music in the country, recording more than 20 albums in a career spanning more than two decades. He has toured Europe, America and Africa and is the only South African artist to have a record signed to Motown Records, according to his website Luckydubemusic.com.

Fellow musician Mzwakhe Mbuli, one of the first people on the scene, said the music industry has been robbed of a legend. I am devastated ... out of words," Mbuli told . "Lucky Dube's music internationally was a great success story. He was a legend."

Dube left behind a wife and seven children. He was South Africa's best-selling reggae artist and had won international acclaim during a long career.