T-Connection -

T-Connection was a funk band from Nassau, Bahamas. They made four albums circa 1977–79 on the T.K.-subsidiary Dash, charting abroad with “Do What You Wanna Do” and “At Midnight.” On Capitol they made another four albums, concluding with the 1984 release Take It to the Limit.

Members: T. Coakley (vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion), Kurt Coakley (bass, backing vocals), Berkley Van Byrd (drums, backing vocals), Monty Brown (guitars, backing vocals), Tony Flowers (percussion, backing vocals)

Background

T-Connection formed in 1973 in Nassau, Bahamas, when singer–keyboardist Theophilus “T” Coakley assembled a quartet with his younger brother, bassist Kirkwood “Kurt” Coakley, drummer Berkley Vanbyrd, and guitarist Monty Brown.

Coakley grew up on Andros Island and learned piano as a child. His father, Lency Coakley, formed the Upsetters, a family group that included Theo and sisters Marion, Patricia, Leona, Margaret, and Viola. The young pianist met bandleader Duke Hanna at sixteen in Fresh Creek, Andros, and secured a piano engagement through an audition for the Lighthouse Club Hotel. The pair spent a year at the Pirates’ Den in Freeport. Hanna returned with Coakley to Nassau for engagements at the Beach Inn and Nassau Beach Hotel. Coakley subsequently played for two years with the Blue Notes, a Nassau group.

The pianist played Rhodes in 1973 on “Slacking Off,” a Nassauvians instrumental with guitarist Tommy Goodwin and engineer–guitarist Allen Mottershaw, who recorded the session at Elite Recording Studio in Nassau. T-Connection played covers at the Show Club on Bay Street and secured an engagement at the Out Island Bar in the Nassau Beach Hotel.

The quartet accepted a November 1975 engagement at the Kiki Rouge, later known as the Connection Room, in Freeport. Percussionist Anthony “Monks” Flowers joined in 1976 as the fifth member. Producer Cory Wade, the president of General Entertainment Corporation, saw the band in Freeport. T-Connection won the group award and the song award for “Peace Line” on July 5, 1976, at the Music Maker of the Year ceremony in the El Kasbah Lounge at El Casino.

Media Records, a Miami label under General Entertainment Corporation, circulated “Disco Magic” in July 1976 on a twelve-inch single (b/w “Disco Magic” in mono); T-Connection reached No. 8 on the Record World disco chart. Heilicher Brothers distributed the record from Miami. Wade arranged a contract with TK Productions, the Miami record company run by label owner Henry Stone. The musicians relocated in 1976 to Miami and signed to Dash, a TK subsidiary. T-Connection recorded the debut album Magic at Criteria Recording Studios with Wade and producer–engineer Alex Sadkin.

Discography:

Magic (1977)
On Fire (1977)
T-Connection (1978)
Totally Connected (1979)
Everything Is Cool (1981)
Pure & Natural (1982)
The Game of Life (1983)
Take It to the Limit (1984)

Sources

Theophilus Coakley, “Theo’s Bio.” Official account of Andros childhood, the family Upsetters, Duke Hanna, the hotel engagements, the Blue Notes, and the November 1975 Freeport booking. (Theo Coakley)
Nassau Guardian, “T-Connection Reloaded” (May 11, 2012). Coakley interview that specifies the 1973 formation, original quartet, Show Club–Out Island Bar sequence, Connection Room, Flowers arrival, and Miami relocation. (Bahamas Local)
Backatcha Records, “The Nassauvians.” Tommy Goodwin interview and session history that identify Coakley’s Rhodes contribution to “Slacking Off,” Mottershaw, Elite studio, and the 1973 recording date. (Backatcha Records)
Billboard, “Bahamas Site of Music Fete” (July 31, 1976). Contemporary report of the July 5 awards, Wade’s company and labels, and distribution of “Disco Magic” to Miami radio stations and discos. (World Radio History)
Billboard, “Disco Action” (July 24, 1976). Identifies the early Media edition, twelve-inch circulation, and Miami distributor Heilicher Brothers. (World Radio History)
T-Connection, “Disco Magic,” Media MED-7711. Release entry for the 1976 twelve-inch edition with stereo and mono versions. (Discogs)
Record World, “Disco File Top 20” (September 4, 1976). Lists “Disco Magic” at No. 8 and identifies Media as the label. (World Radio History)
Jerry Gilbert, “New Developments in the T-Connection Era,” Music Week (April 14, 1979). Coakley interview that identifies Wade’s Freeport discovery and role in the TK contract. (World Radio History)
Joe Marchese, “Disco Connection: BBR Spins Dance Gold with Latest Reissues” (September 3, 2013). Cross-check for the debut quintet, Dash affiliation, Criteria studio, and Wade–Sadkin production credits. (The Second Disc)