Spotlight Artist Mekiel Reuben Saxophonist

Mekiel Reuben Musician, Composer, Producer, Recording Artist The Chicago born native, Mekiel became interested in music at the early age of eight when his mom gave him a guitar for Christmas. At the age of 15 he began studying music and woodwinds under Louis Gray, Crane High School band director. His first performance was at the high school graduation. At this time, he says he was being greatly influenced by Grover Washington Jr., The Crusaders, Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder. At the age of 18 he moved to the Caribbean where he continued to pursue his musical career. He studied privately in

St. Croix with jazz woodwinds player James (Jimmy) Hamilton, a 27-year veteran of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Mekiel says, “I used to watch Hamilton perform from the back of the restaurant where I worked” (Guthries Holger Danske Hotel). They became buddies and he began taking sax lesson. Hamilton taught him the “Art of Reservation” how to enhance his playing style; he said you don’t have to play a lot of notes to get your point across. Mekiel also studied jazz with Benny Jacob El, a graduate of Juilliard School of Music. While living in St. Croix, he learned calypso, reggae, and other Latin and Caribbean rhythms. After several years of working and playing with several theatrical/dance companies in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mekiel returned to the United States following his dream of becoming a recording artist, and resided in Los Angeles, California. He continued his music studies with the legendary saxophonist Bill Greene (improvisation lessons).

He also studied music and marketing at Los Angeles City College and West Los Angeles City College. From 1986-1994 he worked with local Reggae backup bands in the Los Angeles area and worked with artists such as,

The Itals, Johnny Clark, Daddy Uroy, Leroy Smart, Marcia Griffin, and Ras Michael and the sons of Niegus just to mention a few. While a member of Ras Michael and the sons of Niegus for 5 years they recorded the album “Know Now” on Shanachie Records (1989). He participated in several Reggae gigs and festivals and one of the biggest Reggae festivals of Los Angeles was “Bob Marley Day” at least 6x’s with several artists. In 1994 he started his own record label MekMuse Records after years of writing over a hundred songs and tunes and now has several album releases to his credit. In 1995 he began to work with the Hank Robinson

1998 his band was the backup band for Legendary Blues Icon Barbara Morrison.

From 2000 -2004 he worked with icon reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse U.S. west coast touring band and participated in numerous gigs and festivals across the U.S. west coast including 2002 Utah Olympic festival. From 2002-2004 Mekiel worked as a sideman with the legendary “Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm” and toured Europe and North America as a performer in several Blues and Jazz festivals. He participated in the North Seas Jazz fest, Netherlands, Ajaccio Blues fest, Corsica, Pori Jazz fest, Fin - fest, Canada and Montreux jazz fest., Switzerland, where they recorded the album, Live at Montreux “ The Resurrection of Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm,” on the French label - Isabel Records - Blues Power series (M Williams-tenor sax). He has shared stages with many musicians on festivals and concert venues throughout North America (United States and Canada) and Europe featuring acts such as Bunny Wailer, Ziggy Marley, Maxi Priest, Third World, Steel Pulse, Inner Circle , Burning Spear, UB 40, Lenny Williams, Barbara Morrison, Ronnie Laws, The Jazz Crusaders, Les McCann, Marcus Miller, Chaka Khan, Gino Vannelli, Dr. John, Tyrone Davis, Etta James, Phil Perry, George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars and a host of others. In 2006 at the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival he received an award for TOP MUSIC ARTIST from out of over 400 entries. For over two decades, when he is not on tour or performing, he has brought great joy to disabled students by dedicating his talent and time at the Benjamin Banneker Special Education Center in Los Angeles. Mekiel now resides in St Croix, US Virgin Islands where he performs and continue to produce music for the world.

So keep your eyes open and ears tuned for this musician / producer / composer, Mekiel Reuben, to be the next new rising artist. You can Google “Mekiel Reuben” and find his music on most digital platforms; Spodify. com, Amazon.com, Soundcloud.com, iTunes. com, Applemusic.com and YouTube.com etc. D I S C O G R A P H Y/ MekMuse Records releases (1994) Miles Away (a dedication to Miles Davis) (out of print) (1996) Simply Peaceful (2000) Shadows of Love (2005) Hangin in the Moonlight (2009) Cookin’ in East L.A. (2012) If you were here Tonight (2019) M.R. Mekiel Reuben (2020) Chances Are What They Are (2023) Just like the Radio.