Oct 19 (Reuters) - Gunmen have shot and killed South African reggae star Lucky Dube in front of his son and daughter in one of the highest-profile murders in the country, police said on Friday.

Here are some key facts.

* Lucky Philip Dube was born on Aug. 3, 1964 on a small farm outside Ermelo, a dry area some 150 km (94 miles) west of Johannesburg.

* In 1982, Dube made his first trip to Johannesburg to begin working on his first 'mbaqanga' album called "Lucky Dube and the Supersoul". Mbaqanga was one of the most influential musical styles in South Africa and blends uptempo rhythms with social commentary.

* In 1984 after five Mbaqanga albums, Dube went into the studio and began work on his first reggae release, the mini-album "Rastas Never Die". The album was banned in 1985 by the former apartheid government. By then sales had reached 4,000. His Mbaqanga records were peaking at around 30,000 sales.

* Until his death, Dube had recorded 22 albums -- in Zulu, English and Afrikaans. His album Victims sold more than a million copies in 1993.

* Dube was an artist that continued to break down international barriers and recently signed a deal with Warner Music International, securing him album releases across Europe of his latest album "Respect".

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