Bruce McKenzie was born on October 16, 1952, in Burlington, Vt. He
was the youngest of 11, born six months after the death of his
father, Harold McKenzie. His mother, Lennie Perry McKenzie, raised
him and his siblings on Isham Street in Burlington. His eldest
siblings, Joe and Thelma, were his godparents. At an early age,
Thelma arranged drum lessons for Bruce. He got to upgrade from his
knife and fork tapped out on the dining room table to a trap kit in
the attic. He spent many hours honing his skills for the bands he was
yet to join. He was recruited to join his first band, the Heartbeats,
when its existing members overheard him practicing up in the
attic.
Later, and most notoriously, Bruce formed the
N-Zones with Zoot Wilson, Joe Moore, Ellen Powell, Gus Ziesing and,
later, Jim McGinniss, Mark Ransom, Trey Keepin, Peter Riley and Don
Sydney. The N-Zones were an institution. They thrilled audiences at
countless venues with original blues rock and roll numbers, including
“Boogie ‘Til Your Head Caves In,” “Killer Bee Bop” and many
others, all driven by Bruce’s tenacious backbeat.
In
1978, Bruce married another Burlington troubadour, singer-songwriter
Mary McGinniss. They welcomed their sons into the world: Owen, in
1980, and Willy, in 1983. Bruce was an attentive and engaged father
who delighted in his relationships with his boys. His marriage to
Mary ended in 1993, but they have remained lifelong friends, parents
and grandparents.
In 1995, he was a founding member of
Sambatucada!, an Afro-Brazilian samba street band. He served as its
band leader and artistic director for many years, playing for every
conceivable community event, from the Discover Jazz Festival to Mardi
Gras to fundraisers for nonprofits serving the poor and
disadvantaged. The group’s membership was — and is — open to all.
Every performance concluded with an invitation to join the band.
Bruce believed that music was for everyone, including playing it.
Over the years, he held percussion workshops in schools and for
people with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges —
anyone with a desire to pick up a drum and play. He would often talk
about the “omnipotent groove” that resonates with everyone.
Bruce remarked that his nearly 30 years with Sambatucada! was among
the most fun and fulfilling experiences of his creative life. In his
tenure, it is estimated that over 1,000 people have received lessons
from Bruce and other Sambatucada! members. He was always incredibly
generous with his time and encouragement for anyone willing to try
their hand at playing.
In 2006, he met his life partner
and sweetheart, Keiko Kokubun, and their relationship grew and
blossomed amid the arrival of his grandchildren, Shannon Manchester
and Noah and Colin McKenzie. Bruce and Keiko’s love for one another
is fierce.
In 2020, Bruce was diagnosed with cancer. With
the aid of Keiko and Dr. Ades’ team at the University of Vermont
Medical Center oncology department, he fought a stark diagnosis. Dr.
Ades referred to Bruce as one of his miracle patients; his endurance
and resolve won him over a year of remission to have more time with
his beloved family and friends and with Keiko and his grandchildren;
more gigs, holidays, Samba practices and feasts. His dear friend Mark
Ransom, brother Pat McKenzie and brother-in-law James McGinniss
visited him weekly as he recovered from treatments and regained
strength. The family is forever grateful for their support and
friendship. The family would also like to extend our deepest
gratitude to Dr. Ades and his team for the exceptional care they
provided to Bruce.
Bruce will be remembered by those who
knew him as a bard, a talent, and a true lover of life in all of its
trials and joys.
He lost his father before his birth.
During his life, he lost his mother, Lennie; his siblings Thelma and
Ray Maple, Joe, Steve and Bill McKenzie, and Judy and Vinnie
Ziccolella; and his brother-in-law John Bennett.
He is
survived by his love, Keiko Kokubun; his children, Willy Dee McKenzie
and Owen and Sarah McKenzie; his grandchildren, Shannon Manchester
and Noah and Colin McKenzie; his siblings Pat and Ginny McKenzie,
Suzie McKenzie, Kay McKenzie, Brian and Anne McKenzie, and Dennis and
Nora McKenzie; sisters-in-law Kathleen and Pauline McKenzie; his
ex-wife, Mary McGinniss, and her wife, Kate Bouton; and countless
cousins, bandmates, nieces, nephews, students, mentors and kindred
souls.
Our sorrow in Bruce’s passing is eclipsed by his
love for us.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in
his name to Sambatucada! via PayPal @sambavt or to UVM cancer
research.
A memorial visitation was held in the Minor
Funeral Home in Milton, Vt., on October 18, 2023.
For
online condolences, please visit minorfh.com.
This article appears in Oct 25-31, 2023.