McCoy Mrubata
Thu Jun 2, 21:00 - Thu Jun 2, 23:00
The Athletic Club & Social
ABOUT
McCOY MRUBATA LIVE in the TROPHY ROOM at The Athletic Club & Social
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
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 and
Gugulethu township greats like Madoda Gxabeka, Winston Ngozi , the Ngcukanas, Ezra and
Duke, Blackie Tempi and Robert Sithole.
By the early 1980s he was playing in cover bands like Fever, Touch , Airborne and Vukani,
from there he moved to crossover outfit Louis and the Jive. In 1987 McCoy was spotted by
bandleader Sipho Hotstix Mabuse who helped him make Joburg his home. In 1988 he joined
PJ Powers band and also that year 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.
His fellow band members are:
Lonwabo Mafani: Piano
Wesley Rustin: Double Bass
Kurt Bowers: drums