John Mekoa
Ramakgobotla John "Johnny" Mekoa (born April 11, 1945 in Etwatwa , Benoni ; † July 3, 2017 in Crystal Park , Benoni) was a South African jazz musician ( trumpet , flugelhorn , conducting) and music teacher .
Live and act
Mekoa was denied formal music studies in 1964 for racist reasons. A brother taught him the beginnings of jazz; through the mediation of his neighbor Caiphus Semenya he came into contact with the jazz musicians Barney Rachabane and Pat Matshikiza . He then began working as a professional musician in Johannesburg nightclubs. In 1970 he was a founding member of Victor Ndlazilwanas Jazz Ministers , who released albums such as Nomvula's Jazz Dance and Zadive . After Ndlazilwana's death in 1978, he led the band with which he performed at the Newport Jazz Festival . He toured Europe with Abdullah Ibrahim in the early 1990s. He also worked with Jonas Gwangwa , Hugh Masekela , Winston Mankunku and Victor Ntoni .
In 1991 he was able to complete the long-awaited music course at the University of Natal . With a Fulbright scholarship , he was then able to continue his studies at Indiana University in the United States. He returned as a master's degree in 1994 and founded the Gauteng Music Academy in a township near Cape Town in order to further concentrate on the training of young people. He also performed in Europe and North America with the Music Academy of Gauteng Jazz Orchestra , which he directed; with the MAG Big Band he accompanied the singers Kevin Mahogany (2004) and Everett Greene (2005). He served as President of the South African Association for Jazz Education .
Prizes and awards
Mekoa has received honorary doctorates from the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa for his contributions to music. He was also honored with the Life Achievement Award from the Swedish Jazz Federation and several prizes from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality . In 2015 he received the South African ACT Lifetime Achievement Award for Arts Advocacy . The President of the Republic of South Africa awarded him the Order of Ikhamanga in silver that same year .
Discographic notes
- The Ministers Live at the Newport Jazz Festival 1976 (Gallo 1976)
- Abdullah Ibrahim Mantra Mode ( Enja 1991, with Basil Coetzee , Robbie Jansen , Errol Dyers , Spencer Mbadu , Monty Weber )
- Jonas Gwangwa A Temporary Inconvenience (Epic, 2000)
Web links
- portrait
- Lifetime Awards Winner - Arts Advocacy: Johnny Mekoa Mail & Guardian November 6, 2015
- John Mekoa at Allmusic (English)
- John Mekoa at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Obituary in The Times Live
- ↑ IU International April 1997, PDF page 14 (PDF), accessed on January 21, 2017
- ↑ Message (jazze.co.za) ( Memento from August 2, 2017 in the Internet Archive )
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Mekoa, John |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Mekoa, Ramakgobotla John; Mekoa, Johnny (nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | South African jazz musician (trumpet, flugelhorn, conducting) and music teacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 11, 1945 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Something like that, Benoni |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd July 2017 |
| Place of death | Crystal Park , Benoni |