Music-lovers are in for a treat on Sunday, July 31, when the Obz Café Theatre in Observatory features Duncan Faure, who first hit fame with South African supergroup Rabbitt, then went on to join the Bay City Rollers and Madonna on his international travels.
Faure's musical career spans more than three decades. It began in 1972 with his band, Orange Crash Boat, a group dubbed "South Africa's youngest pop sensations". Faure then achieved international fame on joining Rabbitt in 1975.
His progressive keyboard style completed the sound of what many have called "the biggest band to have come out of South Africa". Rabbitt - featuring Faure, Trevor Rabin, Neil Cloud and Ronnie Robot - blew audiences away.
In the summer of '77, Rabin left the band, leaving Faure to carry on as primary songwriter and lead vocalist. But by January the following year, forces both within the band and outside forced them to break up, each member going his separate way.
Later that year, Faure stepped into a vacant lead role with the Scottish group, the Bay City Rollers. The band promised its young followers that, despite the dramatic shift in line-up, the music would remain largely unchanged. Yet what was discovered on its first Faure-featured album, Elevator, was a fearless outburst of musical talent never before heard from the band.
It appeared that Duncan's arrival had given the other members the freedom to express themselves uninhibitedly, uncovering a previously hidden musical drive and determination.
Sadly, the change in style came too late for some fans. Others resented the change in band membership. And, as is often the case with pop sensations, the band's popularity began to slide, in spite of the amazing musical growth during this period.
Faure's contribution to the Rollers has, at times, been underestimated by those unfamiliar with his work.
It is time to set the record straight. There is simply no doubt that, although the Bay City Rollers were a fun and entertaining pop group before Faure's arrival, they emerged as serious and determined musicians during his time with them. Faure had left his mark.
In 2001 Duncan was embraced by recording giant EMI South Africa to record a 14-track cd of original music. With collaboration on a few tunes with renowned South African producer and drummer Kevin Kruger and EMI's managing director, Irving Schlosberg, Take The Good was released in August 2002.
Two notable tracks on the album, rocker Turn Me Back On The Radio and the romantic ballad Not Enough Hours, generated significant airplay on several South African radio stations.
These days Duncan lives in South Africa, working from his home studio where he writes and records daily. Recently a local production company has started filming a TV documentary movie based on his life.
- Duncan Faure Unplugged starts at Obz Cafe, 115 Lower Main Road, Observatory, at 7pm on July 31. Tickets are R100 (R30 for students); details and booking: 021 448 5555.