Harare — In the past few weeks, the phrase "Nzou nemhuru mudanga" (The elephant and its calf in the pen) dominated entertainment circles.

The phrase was coined in reference to Oliver Mtukudzi, the maestro, and his son Sam, his brilliant protégé who was destined to carve a legacy in his own right.

The father and son combination was holding highly subscribed shows in which the master was taking the student to play at the places that he lit on his own way to the top.

But the "Calf" is no more. No longer will it graduate into the big bull destined to take over from the colossal Elephant that his father became in a career spanning three decades and with over 50 albums.

When news broke that Sam died in a horrific car crash along the Harare-Bulawayo Road early yesterday morning, many could not help recalling the sorrowful lyrics of a song Tuku penned a few years back: "Tiri Mubindu" (We are in a Garden) off his album, Nhava.

The song, drawing parallels between human life and a flower garden, laments the passage of life, especially of those in their prime.

Goes part of the song: "Ruva rangoyevedza chete iwe dambu/ Matanha . . . Tiri Mubindu" (When the beautiful flower blooms/ You wrench it off . . . Humans are like flowers in a garden).

The song, powerful in its imagery is as prophetic as it is sad; a constant reminder of man's mortality.

It aptly captures the untimely end of an extremely talented saxophonist, guitarist and vocalist who was poised to become great and possibly achieve the near impossible: fitting into his father's gigantic shoes.

Sam was only 21 and the young man was due to release a 10-track album tentatively titled Cheziya (born of hard work) next month.

Also in the offing was a live DVD album performed and recorded at 7 Arts Theatre.

He teamed up with his father and another young sensation, Sulumani "Chopper" Chimbetu, to work on a number of songs and shows.

In May, Sam was planning to tour Germany on his own.

Zimbabwe grapples with the loss of promising talent.

The former Prince Edward High School student, who featured in the school's jazz band, had only one album to his name -- Rume Rimwe -- a solo project he hoped would catapult him from the shadow of his legendary father.

The 12-track album received generous and well-deserved airplay with such tracks as Wadzanai, Tibatane and Rume Rimwe endearing him to Tuku Music fans who had no qualms in supporting both father and son.

Playing both his favoured saxophone and the acoustic guitar, he had become a regular feature in jazz joints and at festivals and corporate functions.

Apart from performing at local venues like Jazz 105, Sports Diner, Pamuzinda and Extra Mile, Sam took his talents down South where he performed at the Cape Town Jazz Festival with his father in 2008.

The same year he also re-launched "Rume Rimwe" in South Africa.

Elias Mapiye, the music director at Prince Edward High School, who taught Sam music from 2001, feels the loss as acutely as any music follower in the country.

"He was a very different boy, very humble and a very promising musician right from the time that he first arrived at PE. Because of exceptional talent, we persuaded him to take up music as a subject, which he wrote at O Level and obtained a B grade.

"I am running out of words to describe the loss because he never forgot his school. He was always coming back here, helping the school by encouraging other students," said Mapiye.

A fan, Amon Mukanhaire, said: "Looking at late greats like Leonard Dembo and Simon Chimbetu, you see that their children were taking after them musically. The same was happening with Sam.

"It was clear to everyone that when Tuku would finally retire from music, Sam would take over. What a sad thing that he has passed away before fulfilling this," he said.

Born on April 1, 1988 in Kwekwe, Samson Munyaradzi Mtukudzi was educated at Fitchley Primary School before moving to Dudley Primary School in Norton.

In 2001, he enrolled at Prince Edward High School.

It was while at PE that he began his music career after joining the school's Jazz Band two years later.

He distinguished himself as a versatile instrumentalist, playing the saxophone and guitar, apart from being a talented vocalist. He was on record as saying he didn't want to be "sticking under my father's shadow, I want to build my own (music) empire. First and foremost I want to be Sam before I am son of Oliver Mtukudzi".

Sam had ventured into acting, after making his debut in a short film titled "Chipo Changu" that premiered to critical acclaim at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival in 2006.

Together with sister Selmor, Sam was geared to keep the Mtukudzi music heritage alive.

It is a cruel twist of fate that a man in his prime like Tuku will be looked up to for remembrance of so young a man and not vice versa.

For the memory of young Sam, Zimbabweans will have to be content with looking at the elder Mtukudzi with whom he bore a striking physical resemblance with his facial appearance and the gangly strides.

The great band beyond the skies has a very talented new recruit.

May his soul rest in peace.