Duncan Mackay

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Duncan Mackay

Biography
Discography
Images
Interview

Biography

Duncan Mackay 2004
Duncan Mackay 2004

Duncan Mackay has enjoyed a musical career spanning more than five decades as a performer, composer and arranger. Born in Leeds, England, on 26 July 1950, he grew up in a musical household guided by his father, a professor of music and gifted violinist. Classically trained at Shrewsbury School, where he earned the Licentiate of Trinity College London and the Licentiate of the Royal College Of Music diplomas, Duncan’s strong classical foundation shaped a career that would cross continents and genres. He began on violin, later mastering piano and church organ, skills that gave him a distinctive edge as a keyboardist.

In the late 1960s his family relocated to South Africa, where Duncan completed his degrees and began performing. He toured Brazil in 1970 with guitarist Rosinha de Valença, appearing on her album Ipanema Beat and absorbing rhythmic influences that enriched his style. Back in Johannesburg, he and drummer Mike Gray founded The Branch Office, a progressive rock club that quickly became a hub for musicians and fans. With his brother Gordon joining on violin and keyboards, the trio – known as Tricycle – caught the attention of Teal Records. In 1974 Duncan recorded his debut album Chimera in just five days, a milestone in South African progressive rock that showcased his virtuosity and featured the epic “Song for Witches.”

Soon after, Duncan returned to England. He briefly rehearsed with Ginger Baker’s Baker Gurvitz Army and Colosseum II before joining Steve Harley’s Cockney Rebel. His flamboyant keyboard style helped define the band’s sound during its most successful period, contributing to four albums including The Best Years of Our Lives (1975), which featured the chart-topping single Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile). His reputation grew quickly, leading Alan Parsons to recruit him for The Alan Parsons Project, where Duncan played on I Robot (1977), Pyramid (1978), and Eve (1979). Around the same time he worked with Kate Bush on her first two albums, The Kick Inside and Lionheart, witnessing the rise of one of Britain’s most original talents.

Parallel to his session work, Duncan pursued solo projects. His second album Score (1977), produced by John Wetton, balanced virtuosity with accessibility, while Visa (1980) reflected his growing interest in electronic sounds and studio independence. A chance jam session led to his involvement with 10cc, contributing to Bloody Tourists (1978) and Look Hear? (1980), including the worldwide hit Dreadlock Holiday. Touring with 10cc brought him global exposure, though the band’s momentum slowed after Eric Stewart’s car accident in 1979.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s Duncan collaborated with a wide range of artists including Camel, Budgie, Elkie Brooks, Cliff Richard, Gilbert O’Sullivan, and John Miles. He co-wrote film scores, notably with Eric Stewart for Girls (1980), and later shifted focus to library music, composing for films, documentaries, and television. His versatility made him a natural fit for this field.

In 1993 Duncan returned to South Africa permanently, settling in Cape Town and building his own recording studio. He worked as a producer, engineer, and composer for local and international projects, collaborating with Neil Lockwood (from ELO Part II) on Songs to Fall in Love To (1998), with the track “T-Rex and the Thin White Duke” receiving radio play. He also composed for advertising, film, and television, contributing to projects such as The Syndicate (SABC’s top-rated drama series), wildlife documentaries, and educational media.

In the 2000s and 2010s Duncan re-emerged with new solo albums and collaborations, including A Picture of Sound (2017), Kintsugi (2019), and Lunacy (2020) with Fluance. He also worked on The Bletchley Park Project (2017) with Georg Voros. Most recently, in March 2026, he released A Beautiful Madness, a collaborative album with South African guitarist Mauritz Lotz, reaffirming his place as one of the most versatile and enduring figures in progressive rock.

From Leeds to Johannesburg, Rio to London, and finally Cape Town, Duncan Mackay’s journey reflects both the unpredictability and richness of a life devoted to music. Classically trained yet endlessly adaptable, he remains at heart a keyboardist and composer, bringing his musical visions to life with technical skill and creative spirit.

March 2026

In His Own Words

The Best Years Of Our Lives Tour Programme March 1975 (extract)

I was born on 26th of July 1950. My father was a professor of music, lecturing in stringed instruments. My first instrument was the violin which I started learning at the age of 5. At 8 I started playing piano and switched to church organ when I was 13.

While in my 20th year I gained the Licentiate of Trinity College London and the
Licentiate of the Royal College Of Music. Soon after I went to live in Africa and then
left for Brazil where I played with some ex-members of Sergio Mendes, recording two
L.P.’s and doing T.V. and cabaret. But this was not where I saw my future in music so
I returned to Africa and started experimenting with electronic rock.

After reading a copy of Melody Maker I decided England was where it was happening in rock music so I broke all my ties in Africa and flew to England. Soon afterwards I heard Steve (Harley) was looking for a keyboards player. You know the rest.

Duncan Mackay
Read the sleeve notes from the CD reissue of “Chimera”

Discography

Singles (selected)

  • C’mon (And Get It Together) / Anne – Tricycle (1972) produced by Jody Wayne
  • Spaghetti Smooch / Fugitive (1977)
  • Sirius III / The Serious Side Of Sirius III (1978)
  • Sirius III Mark II / In The Pink (1981)
  • Thrust 2 / Project Thrust (1983)
  • T Rex & The Thin White Duke – Lockwood Mackay (1997) radioplay in South Africa; released on “It’s My Party ’97” compilation CD.

Albums (selected)

Discography on Wikipedia
Discography on Discogs

Mix

A Fistful Of Keyboards

Keyboard wizard Duncan Mackay was born on 26 July 1950 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He turned 70 on that date in 2020. He immigrated to South Africa in the late ’60s and started a band called Tricycle with his brother, Gordon. He returned to the UK in the ’70s and was a member of Steve Harley’s Cockney Rebel, 10cc, Camel, Budgie and others. He came back to South Africa in 1993.

This mix is a tribute to one of my favourite ’70s Progressive Rock keyboardists alongside Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Jon Lord.

Brian Currin, 26 July 2020
Tracks

1. The Opening – Duncan Mackay
2. Fistful Of Keyboards – Duncan Mackay
3. Morpheus – Duncan Mackay feat Gordon Mackay & Mike Gray
4. 12 Tone Nostalgia – Duncan Mackay feat Gordon Mackay & Mike Gray
5. Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
6. Here Comes The Sun – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
7. Score – Duncan Mackay
8. Time Is No Healer – Duncan Mackay feat Steve Harley
9. No Return – Duncan Mackay feat John Wetton
10. I Robot – The Alan Parsons Project
11. Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
12. Dreadlock Holiday – 10cc
13. Sirius III / Sirius III Mark II – Duncan Mackay
14. Beached – Camel
15. Money – Elkie Brooks
16. Truth Drug – Budgie
17. T Rex & The Thin White Duke – Lockwood Mackay
18. The First Time – RĂ©union
19. Lion Man – RĂ©union
20. Bletchley Park – Duncan Mackay & Georg Voros
21. Lunacy – Fluance feat Duncan Mackay
22. Song For Witches – Duncan Mackay feat Gordon Mackay & Mike Gray

Images

Interview

Prog Italia magazine, April 2024

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