Maria McCloy: The heartbeat of South Africa’s music industry falls silent
Maria McCloy, an icon of South Africa's music, fashion and entertainment industry. There are some people in the entertainment industry whose names become so familiar, so deeply woven into the culture, that it becomes difficult to imagine the industry without them. Maria McCloy was one of those rare people. If you spent any amount of time in South Africa’s music, media or fashion circles over the past three decades, chances are Maria knew you, worked with you, dressed you, introduced you to someone important, promoted your work, played your music or simply encouraged you when the industry became too loud or too lonely. And she did it all with class and style. Maria McCloy, who passed away on Tuesday evening at Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital following heart failure, was more than a publicist, DJ or fashion creative. She was a connector of worlds. A bridge between artists and audiences. A trusted voice behind the scenes of some of the country’s most defining cultural moments sinc...