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Artist
McCoy Mrubata
12+ albums
jazzsouth africasouth african jazzworldsaxophone
about
Saxophonist, flute player, band leader and composer Born in 1959 in Cape Town’s historic Langa township, South Africa. Reedman McCoy Mrubata grew up with the sounds of African music: the soulful hymns of the Zion Church, the chants and rhythms of traditional healers and the brassy jive of the Merry Macs band who rehearsed opposite his home. When schooling became impossible in the fiery aftermath of the 1976 uprising, the young McCoy then playing flute studied informally under Langa greats like Madoda Gxabeka, the Ngozi brothers, Winston and Thulisile, the Ngcukanas, Ezra and Duke, Blackie Tempi and Robert Sithole. By the early 1980s he was playing in cover bands like Fever, Touch and Airborne, from where he moved to crossover outfit Louis and the Jive. A declining live music scene in Cape Town meant lots of touring, and McCoy was spotted by bandleader Sipho Hotstix Mabuse who helped him make Joburg his home. Now playing a wider range of reeds, and composing more, he worked with a range of pop and jazz bands, in 1988 McCoy was sported by veteran producer Koloi Lebona who offered him a recording deal with a British based record company Zomba Records. The same record company had produced music for, amongst others, Jonathan Butler and Billy Ocean.McCoy’s debut album, Firebird was released the following year. In 1989 he formed Brotherhood, which also included guitarist Jimmy Dludlu pianist Nhlanhla Magagula and Lucas Khumalo. In 1990 the band won the Gilbey's Music For Africa
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