R.I.P. "Mama Africa"

South African songbird Miriam Makeba finished a concert in Italy Sunday, then collapsed as she was leaving the stage. She was 76.

Some friends and my brother and I were privileged to see Miriam in concert in the early 1990s in Portland Maine. She was backed that night, which was her birthday, by her ex Hugh Masekela and his great band, but she was even happier to have one of her nieces singing backup.

She will be missed.