13-01-2019, 21:31
Trevor Rabin was born on this day in 1954, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was raised in an exceptionally musical family and classically trained from a young age – he plays piano, guitar and bass and probably a few other instruments besides. His father was a highly regarded violinist who spent fourteen years as the leader of the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra and who supported his son when he ventured into the rock arena, even contributing to one track on the nascent band’s first album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1KsckU3VtM - and very fab it is too - that violin!
It’s probably safe to say that Trevor and his cohorts, Duncan Faure (who later went on to join The Bay City Rollers), Ronnie Robot and Neil Cloud were South Africa’s first super popular rock band within the demographics of the time. They called themselves Rabbitt and they had girls fainting in the aisles, literally! (For the record, I was not one of them, lol! A bit before my time, and in any event, I was listening to my friend's older brothers' music which for me, had more substance. Might have been a music nerd.) Rabbitt was a fortuitous combination of talent and sex appeal which was unprecedented in those days. In actual fact, the first track the band did that got some attention was a cover of “Locomotive Breath” - I think that was before all the others joined him, in any event, they went on to have great success for a very short period, especially with this song – “Charlie” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5YuI7tKVzU.
Rabbitt wasn’t able to tour internationally due to restrictions because of apartheid and that was one of the reasons they ended up fizzling out. Meanwhile, Trevor didn’t stop – he’d scored a movie (has since composed for dozens more films), and in the early 80’s he took an opportunity to move to the UK where he got involved with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. From there his virtuosity and ability earned him a place in the then Yes line-up (after having declined an invitation to tour with Foreigner) and I’d be surprised if anyone here wasn’t familiar with “Owner of a Lonely Heart”, which he wrote – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVOuYquXuuc.
He’s also collaborated with and contributed to many other muso’s offerings, not least, Michael Jackson, Seal, Paul Rodger, Rick Wakeman, Tina Turner, Roger Hodgson, and so it goes on. He’s still musically involved with Jon Anderson and Wakeman, and has also recorded a number of solo albums which I have to confess to having dipped into from time to time without much enthusiasm, for some reason! Took this opportunity to listen to his most recent solo (which isn’t recent at all, having been released in 2012, but anyway), it's called Jacaranda, which is his self-indulgence and is definitely tinged with the colours and experiences of his home country – specifically Jo’burg which is where I grew up, so I know where he’s coming from and enjoyed the listen. No doubt about it – he has skills …
This is blocked in my country, but maybe not in yours ...
Just in case - one from Jacaranda that isn't blocked … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6nN6o9a...-gffiMUoJU
It’s probably safe to say that Trevor and his cohorts, Duncan Faure (who later went on to join The Bay City Rollers), Ronnie Robot and Neil Cloud were South Africa’s first super popular rock band within the demographics of the time. They called themselves Rabbitt and they had girls fainting in the aisles, literally! (For the record, I was not one of them, lol! A bit before my time, and in any event, I was listening to my friend's older brothers' music which for me, had more substance. Might have been a music nerd.) Rabbitt was a fortuitous combination of talent and sex appeal which was unprecedented in those days. In actual fact, the first track the band did that got some attention was a cover of “Locomotive Breath” - I think that was before all the others joined him, in any event, they went on to have great success for a very short period, especially with this song – “Charlie” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5YuI7tKVzU.
Rabbitt wasn’t able to tour internationally due to restrictions because of apartheid and that was one of the reasons they ended up fizzling out. Meanwhile, Trevor didn’t stop – he’d scored a movie (has since composed for dozens more films), and in the early 80’s he took an opportunity to move to the UK where he got involved with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. From there his virtuosity and ability earned him a place in the then Yes line-up (after having declined an invitation to tour with Foreigner) and I’d be surprised if anyone here wasn’t familiar with “Owner of a Lonely Heart”, which he wrote – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVOuYquXuuc.
He’s also collaborated with and contributed to many other muso’s offerings, not least, Michael Jackson, Seal, Paul Rodger, Rick Wakeman, Tina Turner, Roger Hodgson, and so it goes on. He’s still musically involved with Jon Anderson and Wakeman, and has also recorded a number of solo albums which I have to confess to having dipped into from time to time without much enthusiasm, for some reason! Took this opportunity to listen to his most recent solo (which isn’t recent at all, having been released in 2012, but anyway), it's called Jacaranda, which is his self-indulgence and is definitely tinged with the colours and experiences of his home country – specifically Jo’burg which is where I grew up, so I know where he’s coming from and enjoyed the listen. No doubt about it – he has skills …
This is blocked in my country, but maybe not in yours ...
Just in case - one from Jacaranda that isn't blocked … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6nN6o9a...-gffiMUoJU
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson