Gospel singer Papa Dennis, who was orphaned at a tender age, knew death from a very young age.

In a past interview with Mpasho, he opened up about struggles in his rise to stardom.

The Nashukuru hitmaker said that were it not for Jimmy Gait, with whom he recorded his hit song Makekes, he would have been a nobody by now.

"WHEN I WAS STARTING MUSIC, ALL WAS NOT ROSY. I USED TO STAY IN UMOJA AND WORKED AT A LOCAL CANDLE FACTORY, WHERE I EARNED SH4,000. THE AMOUNT WAS VERY LITTLE AND COULD NOT SUSTAIN ME. I COULD WALK FROM UMOJA TO TOWN OR EVEN RONGAI JUST TO RECORD A SONG," HE TOLD Mpasho.

The singer said the second time the devil knocked on his door and made him feel like giving up was when he was attacked by a gang at his home in Eastlands.

"THE FIRST TIME I APPEARED IN THE PAPERS AFTER RECORDING THE MAKEKES AUDIO WITH JIMMY GAIT, I WAS ATTACKED WITH A GANG OF 20 IN EASTLANDS. THEY DEMANDED CASH FROM ME. I WAS BEATEN AND LEFT FOR DEAD. I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO SHOOT THE MAKEKES VIDEO IN SOUTH AFRICA THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND IT'S AT THIS POINT THAT I FELT LIKE GIVING UP. I WENT INTO PRAYER AND GOD FOUGHT FOR ME," HE SAID.

After that brush with death, months later, Papa Dennis was thankful to God after surviving a horrific road accident.

Just days after celebrating his birthday, Papa Dennis was involved in a grisly road accident. From the look of things, the car he was in was written off.

In another post, there is a picture of him in bed eyes open. At least he is alive and okay. He assured his fans God has saved his life with the caption:

when God saves your life, Nashukuru

Here are images of his car after the accident.

Last night Papa Dennis's body was discovered near the Jubilee headquarters. The cause of his death is yet to be revealed.