Early life and education[edit]
Rubin was born in Brooklyn. He began attending Juilliard School of Music in New York when he was 17 and studied with William Vacchiano, who was principal trumpet in the New York Philharmonic. Vacchiano described Rubin as his best student.[1] While at Juilliard, Rubin was invited to play with Paul Hindemith on his last concert tour of the United States, but Rubin chose instead to play with Peggy Lee at the Village Vanguard. Rubin dropped out of Juilliard at 20 to tour with singer Robert Goulet as his lead trumpet player.[2]
Career[edit]
Rubin was a member of the Saturday Night Live Band, with whom he played at the Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games. As a member of The Blues Brothers, he portrayed Mr. Fabulous in the 1980 film, the 1998 sequel and was a member of the touring band. In the first film, Rubin's character is maitre d' at an expensive restaurant before Jake and Elwood persuade him to rejoin the band. The nickname "Mr Fabulous" was given to Rubin by John Belushi.[3]
Rubin played with an array of artists, such as Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, Duke Ellington, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Gil Evans, Eumir Deodato, Sting, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Frankie Valli, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Miles Davis, Yoko Ono, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and Dr. John. Rubin contributed to over 6000 recording sessions.
Rubin's last performance was with The Blues Brotherhood (Blues Brothers tribute show) at B.B. King's in New York City on October 12, 2010. The performance also featured Tom "Bones" Malone and Lou "Blue Lou" Marini.
Death[edit]
Rubin died from lung cancer on June 8, 2011 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.
With Patti Austin
With Gato Barbieri
With George Benson
With The Blues Brothers
With Hue and Cry
With Jimmy Buffett
With Ron Carter
With Stanley Clarke
With Linda Clifford
With Hank Crawford
With Sheena Easton
With Donald Fagen
With Aretha Franklin
With Gloria Gaynor
With Johnny Hammond
With Levon Helm
With Jennifer Holliday
With Cissy Houston
With Jackie and Roy
With Garland Jeffreys
With Billy Joel
With Hubert Laws
With O'Donel Levy
With Fred Lipsius
With Herbie Mann
With Jimmy McGriff
With Sinéad O'Connor
With Yoko Ono
With Lou Reed
With Don Sebesky
With Carly Simon
With Paul Simon
With Lonnie Smith
With Phoebe Snow
With Ringo Starr
With James Taylor
With Tina Turner
With Stanley Turrentine
With Frankie Valli
With Randy Weston
With Jim Steinman'