Rex Rabanye

Micheal Morake (Rex) Rabanye (13 March 1944 – 10 October 2010) was a South African jazz, fusion and soulful pop musician.

Rex Rabanye
Rabanye in 1988
Born
Michael Morake Rabanye

(1944-03-13)13 March 1944
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Died10 October 2010(2010-10-10) (aged 66)
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Occupation
  • Recording artist
  • Keyboardist
  • Producer
  • Music Arranger
  • Composer
Years active1967–2010
Spouse(s)Achu Rabanye
Children3
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Keyboard
  • guitar
LabelsGallo Records
Associated acts
  • The Teenage Lovers
  • Dance with the Teenage Lovers
  • Sipho Mabuse
  • Steve Kekana
  • Babsy Mlangeni
  • Lawrence"Sackey"Goreoang
  • Victor"Mr Vic"Masigo

Great instrumental legend Rex Rabanye, a key influence on Black Moses of the Soul Brothers and a generation of imitators.

Early life

He was born in Potchefstroom. Rex as he was affectionately known ,studied B Uris at the University of Bophuthatswana now known as North-West University, The University is based in Mahikeng where Rex lived with his family for some time.

Music career

To the south west of Johannesburg, Ikageng in Potchefstroom produced a hot soul band called the Teenage Lovers.It is hot property was Rex Rabanye, the keyboard wizard who was Ikageng's response to Alexandra's Sankie Chounyane.He had learned to play the keyboards from his father, Samuel Rabanye at the age of fifteen. His bee-hive organ sound earned him millions of fans around the country.

After going solo, Rex Rabanye hit the country with dynamites like O Nketsang and Moya Moya. Some of the multi-talented Rex's painting can be seen on the walls of the African Methodist Church in Ikageng. By the late 80s the lawman who hold a B.Uris degree had moved from his place of birth to Mmabatho near Mafikeng, from where he relaunched his musical career. His other albums include Somlandela, Campus Mood and Stop Nonsons.

It is just so sad that such a gifted individual could be failed by his health to a point of losing his hearing. I was almost moved to tears the evening SAMA 12 honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement award.

There he was on a wheelchair receiving the award he so much deserved after inspiring a whole generation of keyboardists. That reminded me of the night Curtis Mayfield was honoured in the same manner at the Grammy Awards. Touching moments! I stood up in front of my television set and applauded. 'Long live soulman! Go soulman go!' I screamed. Luckily I was alone in the house and did not have to explain myself to anyone..." (Mojapelo, 2008: 47-48)


He was a founding member of the Teenage Lovers band of which they formed in the late 1960s. The band consisted of Rex Rabanye (Keyboardist), Dan Makaku (Guitarist), Toto Rabanye (Bass Guitarist), Boy (Saxophonist) and Victor Masigo (Drummer).Lawrence 'Sackey' Goreoang(the "I Love Ikageng" and "Hey-Tah -Dah" hit maker) was also a guitarist in the band and later resorted to a rivalry band (The Question Marks) of The Teenage Lovers which he founded. The Teenage Lovers band made platinum hits like "Botany 500", "Trinity", "Mmabatho", "Potchefstroom Road" among others. When the Teenage Lovers disbanded Rex went solo, he conceived platinum-selling albums like Onketsang (1986) and Moya moya (1987). To date Onketsang remains one of the favourite songs during African Weddings through out South Africa and neighbouring countries, which is a legacy that is bound to last for many generations to come.

Personal life

Rex was married to Achu Rabanye and they had 1 son, 2 daughters.

death

He died on 10 October 2010 at his home in Potchefstroom after battling a lifelong illness.[1]

Awards and Nominations

Rex has received many awards in recognition for his contribution to the music industry, one being the South African Music Awards lifetime achievement award during the 2006 MTN SAMA's.[1]

Discography

studio albums
  • Moya-Moya (1986)
  • O Nketsang (1986)
  • Stôp Nônsôns (1986)
  • Moya-Moya (1986)
  • Somlandela (1987)
  • Campus Mood (1988)
  • There's Nothing For Mahala (2007)

References
  1. Edward Tsumele (14 October 2010). "Teenage Lover Rabanye dies". sowetanlive.co.za.
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