International banker and musician Ezra Silosky found his voice through tragedy, now proud member of unique band Eagle’s Groove
Currently, the band performs at venues around Johannesburg, with a recent show having taken place at Sawubona Lounge in Tshiawelo, Soweto, and an international tour is also in the pipeline.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
He did not know that he was a singer with a beautiful voice, till tragedy struck. Then he found his voice, emerging for a huge personal life.
Civil Engineer, turned international bank and band member Ezra Silosky tells of the day of morning in which during which he was suffering from the loss of his mother, but whose circumstances luckily brought to the fore talent that he never knew he had till that moment.
Ï had just lost my mother. I had to sing in the synagogue as part of the funeral ceremony, and surprisingly, a new voice that sang so well emerged. It was a voice I never knew I had. That was 15 years ago in Highlands North, Johannesburg when that happened,” he told CITYLIFE/ARTS in an interview recently. The interview was held in a coffee shop attached to Elis House next to Elis Park, East of Johannesburg, where his band was rehearsing.
From that moment when I discovered my voice, I started singing at clubs around the country, doing karaoke. I was a karaoke champion around Johannesburg’s night clubs and restaurants till about a year ago when I assisted in forming a band, of which I am a band member. I bought put together all the resources we needed as a fully-fledged band, including the instruments.
Currently, the band performs at venues around Johannesburg, with a recent show having taken place at Sawubona Lounge in Tshiawelo, Soweto, and an international tour is also in the pipeline.
Ezra’s role is that of a vocalist, lending his vocal abilities that he only discovered late in life through tragedy. He also writes the lyrics for the band’s music, and have released an album for both discerning music lovers locally and for international ears.
However Ezra is not just an ordinary musician, for during the week, he puts on a suit in his capacity’s managing director of an international bank with branches throughout the world.
“How I came to know about the guys is that I met my girlfriend about four year ago, Tebogo Methuko, a supermodel, who is also part of the band. But then last year I formally joined the band as its vocalist. It was really hard work at the beginning as it took many moths of serious rehearsal with the band to get everything right,” Ezra said.
The vocalist believes that their brand of music is sure to soon find home in the ears and hearts of a global music audience due to its uniqueness, standing out from the noise.
That perhaps suits the band’s style, with Ezra having lived and worked in different cultural environments. Born in Israel, he also lived in France before coming to South Africa in the 80s’where his family later joined him.
“I remember when I first came to South Africa in the 1980s’I hardly could speak a single English word. I had to learn English very fast working as a civil engineer working in property development, involved in the development of some of the biggest properties in the country. That was before I went into the financial sector, where I am currently working as managing director of a huge international bank,” he said.
He clearly takes his work as a banker seriously. He however has music etched in his heart. In any case, he discovered his voice in a special way, as he was singing at his mother’s funereal in a synagogue. That alone should count for something deep spiritually.
When not at work, his time is spent focusing on building Eagle’s Groove, taking the band to all the corners of the world.
‘’I am now 80, and I must have broken a record as the oldest emerging musician who has discovered his vocal abilities late in life,” Ezra quipped.
Eagle’s Groove Band
The band comprises Ezra, Tebogo Methuko (both vocalists), Kabelo (drums), T-Man (Djembe and percussion), Hloni (Guitar and vocals), Tebogo (keyboards) and Thapelo (bass).