Zambian-born composer, arranger, producer and keyboardist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
His work includes jazz fusion, film scoring, new-ageand techno
Bekker was born in the Zambian Copper Belt mining town of Nkana Kitwe, and raised 48 km down the road in Mufulira
He first became enamored with piano when, at the age of six, he heard his aunt Ria play the instrument
After his parents bought him a small piano, Bekker taught himself to play, at first studying pianists Carmen Cavallaro, Eddy Duchin and later the sounds of the jazz greats Art Tatum, George Shearing, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans for inspiration
In 1945, the family relocated to Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (later christened Zimbabwe)
He attended Milton Junior School and then the Bulawayo Technical High School
At age 15, Bekker and five of his friends formed a band called “The Youth Marvels” playing the hits of the day