MBILIA BEL
They are gone now but during the 70s and 80s, Africa's two great dance music masters, Franco and Tabu Ley Rochereau were in a friendly rivalry (sometimes strained) for the title of best Congolese artist.
Franco, the child guitar prodigy, whose band defined the rumba Congolese sound with his band OK Jazz, came first; Rochereau, whose sweet tenor was honed in choirs, favoured a softer more international sound.
By the early 80s, the two stars were fronting huge orchestras that toured the continent, and increasingly Europe. While Franco added more guitars and a bevy of singers to supplement his singing and guitar pyrotechnics, Rochereau brought in young musicians, expanded his brass section and added both Caribbean rhythms and features from US soul music. You could argue that Rochereau was the one to internationalise the Congolese dance music but at the same time you'd have to admit that the young generation, led by Zaiko Langa Langa, was already doing that with their stripped-down, brass-less, smaller combo sound.
More: Bangkok Post
No comments:
Post a Comment