Loudness was a Japanese hard-rock/metal band with guitarist Akira Takasaki. They debuted with the 1981 Blow Up album The Birthday Eve, followed by the 1982/83 B&M titles Devil Soldier and The Law of Devil’s Land. Through 1985, they released four Columbia albums and reached US MTV with their Thunder in the East single “Crazy Nights,” […]
Chris Youlden is an English blues-rock singer who sang in the second lineup of Savoy Brown from 1968 to 1970. As a solo artist, he issued the 1973/74 Deram albums Nowhere Road and City Child. Youlden was born in 1943 in Dagenham, Essex. In 1967, he replaced Brice Portius as the vocalist in blues rockers […]
Circus was an English psych-rock band that released a self-titled album on Transatlantic Records in 1969. They featured singer-songwriter Phillip Goodhand-Tait, whose solo backing band formed the nucleus of Camel. Saxophonist Mel Collins did a three-album stint in King Crimson and became a prolific sessionist before joining Camel in the late ’70s. (Not to be […]
Hiroki Miyano — 宮野弘紀 (Oct. 17, 1953) — is a Japanese jazz-guitarist who released three albums on Philips between 1981 and 1983, followed by a fourth album on DEEP MOAT in 1988. Discography: Manhattan Skyline (1981) Full Sail (1982) Hotel California (1983 • Super Guitar Duo Featuring Hiroki Miyano) D / I / V / […]
Lacrymosa was a Japanese chamber-rock unit led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Chihiro Saito. They made a 1984 LLE album colloquially known as Bugbear, followed by a 1985 extended play. Saito resurrected Lacrymosa with the 1995 disc Joy of the Wrecked Ship. Members: Chihiro Saito (bass, fretless bass, e-bow, percussion, violin, vocals), Masa Sasaki (drums, percussion), […]
Kyoji Yamamoto — 山本恭司 (March 23, 1956) — is a Japanese guitarist, best known as the founder and mainstay of hard-rockers Bow Wow. The band was initially active between 1975 and 1990, during which time he also appeared on albums by Romy, Ann Lewis, Yuhki Nakajima, and Munetaka Higuchi. As a solo artist, Yamamoto released […]
Kumi Taguchi — 田口久美 — is a Japanese actress who starred in several pink films during the mid-1970s. She appears in spoke-word capacity on the soundtrack to her 1976 feature Tokyo Emmanuelle Fujin, released on Victor that year with arrangements by Mitsuru Kotani and Nozomi Aoki. Discography: 田口久美が語る 愛の遍歴 (1975) エマニエル夫人~甘い夜のためいき (Tokyo Emmanuelle Fujin – […]
Kochi were a multinational jazz-rock super-group led by Japanese keyboardist/composer Masabumi Kikuchi. The project yielded the album Wishes on East Wind in 1976. Members: Al Foster, Anthony Jackson, David Liebman, James Mtume, Masabumi Kikuchi, Reggie Lucas, Steve Grossman, Terumasa Hino Discography: Wishes (1976)
Kohsuke Mine — 峰厚介 (Feb. 6, 1944) — is a Japanese jazz saxophonist and bandleader who released numerous albums under solo and combo billings on Philips, East Wind, and other labels during the 1970s. Late in the decade, he co-founded the jazz-funk super-group Native Son, which released 11 albums on JVC and Polydor between 1979 […]
Kiyoshi Sugimoto — 杉本喜代志 (Feb. 3, 1942) — is a Japanese jazz-rock guitarist who released a string solo and combo-lead albums on Columbia, Express, and Better Days between 1970 and 1981. Discography: Yoru Anata to Yoru to Music (1968) Country Dream (1969 • Kiyoshi Sugimoto Quartet) Guitar Method (1972) Babylonia Wind (1972 • Kiyoshi Sugimoto […]
Kiyoko Itoh is a Japanese art-pop vocalist who released numerous singles between 1967 and 1971 on CBS/Sony. In 1969, the label issued her debut album Ballads of Love, followed in 1970 by Woman at 23 Hour Love-In. Discography: きよ子と愛とメルヘンと (Ballads of Love) (1969) 23時の女―ラブ・イン― (Woman at 23 Hour Love-In) (1970)
Kimio Mizutani — 水谷公生 (June 17, 1947) — is a Japanese jazz-rock guitarist who was involved in several notable group projects that yielded albums in 1971, including People, Love Live Life, The Mannheim Rock Ensemble, Akira Ishikawa’s Count Buffalos, and Masahiko Sato’s Sound Breakers. That same year, Mizutani released the album A Path Through Haze […]
Kenso was a Japanese symphonic/jazz-rock band that released three studio albums on Pam and Nexus between 1981 and 1985, followed by a turn-of-the-’90s pair on Crime and Electric Bird. The band has also released numerous discs of live recordings and ’70s-era archival material. Members: Yoshihisa Shimizu (guitar, synthesizer), Kenichi Oguchi (keyboards), Kenichi Mitsuda (keyboards), Shunji […]
Kennedy were a Japanese jazz-rock band that released the album Twinkling NASA on Nexus in 1986, followed by an eponymous live disc on Monolith in 1988. Members: Mutsuhiko Izumi (guitar), 小西健司 [Kenji Konishi] (piano, 1983-89), Atsushi Kitaoka (keyboards, 1983-89), Hitoshi Usami (drums, 1983-?), Takashi Yasuda (drums, ?-present) Discography: Twinkling NASA (1986) Kennedy! (live, 1988)
Kenji Mori — 森剣治 (born 1942) — is a Japanese saxophonist and bandleader who headed a sequence of jazz combos between the mid-1970s and early 1980s, each documented with recordings on the Three Blind Mice label. Discography: Plays The Bird (1975 • Kenji Mori Trio) Firebird (1977 • Kenji Mori Quartet) Be-Bop ’82 (1982 • […]
Keep was a Japanese jazz-rock super-group that released the 1981/82 albums DG-581 and Rock’n Rocked Rock on Trio and Trash. Members: 深町純 [Jun Fukamachi] (keyboards), Akira Wada (electric guitar), 富倉安生 [Yasuo Tomikura] (electric bass), 山木秀夫 [Hideo Yamaki] (drums) Background Keep formed in 1980 when keyboardist Jun Fukamachi assembled guitarist Akira Wada, bassist Yasuo Tomikura, and […]
Kazumi Band was a Japanese jazz-rock quintet led by prolific guitarist Kazumi Watanabe. They cut the 1981 Better Days album Talk You All Tight, followed by the 1982 DOMO release Ganaesia. Members: Hideo Yamaki, Kazumi Watanabe, Kenji Takamizu, Masanori Sasaji, Yasuaki Shimizu Background Kazumi Band formed in 1981 when guitarist Kazumi Watanabe assembled saxophonist Yasuaki […]
Kazuki Tomokawa — 友川かずき (born Feb. 16 1950) — is a Japanese folk-psych singer/songwriter who released three albums on Harvest between 1975 and 1977, followed by a pair of albums apiece on Bellwood and King between 1978 and 1981. Discography: やっと一枚目 (Yatto Ichimaime) (1975) 肉声 (Nikusei) (1976) 千羽鶴を口に咥えた日々 (Senbazuru wo Kuchini Kuwaeta Hibi) (1977) 俺の裡で鳴り止まない詩 […]
Katsutoshi Morizono — 森園勝敏 (born Feb. 18, 1954) — is a Japanese jazz-rock guitarist who released four albums on Electric Bird between 1978 and 1981. Discography: Guitar Work Shop (1977 • 大村憲司, 渡辺香津美, 森園勝敏 & 山岸潤史) Bad Anima (1978) Cool Alley (1979) Escape (1980) Spirits (1981) Just Now & Then (1982) Katsutoshi Morizono (1982) 4:17p.m. […]
Junko Yagami — 八神純子 (born Jan. 5, 1958) — is a Japanese art-pop singer who released eight albums on Discomate between 1978 and 1984, followed by three titles on Moon Records in 1985 and 1986. A further round of albums on NEC Avenue commenced in the late 1980s. Background Junko Yagami was born January 5, […]
Junko Ohashi (April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese soul-pop vocalist who released twelve Philips albums between 1974 and 1983, half with backing by Minoya Central Station. From 1988 through 2004, she made eleven further albums on Epic and VAP. She cut thirty-four singles across her career, landing Oricon hits with “Paper […]
Hiroyuki Namba — 難波弘之 (born Sept. 9, 1953) — is a Japanese keyboardist and symphonic/soundtrack composer who released nine albums between 1979 and 1988, mostly on Air Records. Discography: Sense of Wonder (1979) Party Tonight (1981) 飛行船の上のシンセサイザー弾き (Hikōsen no Ue no Synthesizer Hiki) (1982) Green Requiem (1984) Shin Genma Taisen (1984) Le charme discret de […]
Jun Fukamachi — 深町純 (May 21, 1946 — Nov. 22, 2010) — was a Japanese jazz-rock keyboardist who released six albums on Polydor, Express, and TAM between 1971 and 1973, followed by a dozen albums on Toshiba, Kitty, and Alfa during the mid-to-late 1970s. Fukamachi was born in Tokyo and took up piano at age […]
Hiroshi Sato — 佐藤博 (June 3, 1947 — Oct. 24, 2012) — was a Japanese art-pop keyboardist and songwriter who released two albums on Wave Concept in 1976 and 1977, followed by a third title on Kitty Records in 1979. Between 1982 and 1990, he released eight albums on Alfa Records. Certain releases translate his […]
Hiromasa Suzuki — 鈴木宏昌 (May 26, 1940 — May 21, 2001) — was a Japanese jazz-rock pianist and composer who released a pair of albums on RCA in 1972 and 1973, followed by a string of titles on Toshiba and Columbia during the late 1970s. Discography: Dynamic Rock (1971 • Colgen Hiromasa Suzuki / The […]
Hiro Yanagida — 柳田博義 (May 7, 1947) — is a Japanese keyboardist who played in the bands Apryl Fool, Food Brain, and Love Live Life + One during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1970 and 1978, he released six solo albums on Liberty, Atlantic, URC, and CBS/Sony. Background Hiro Yanagida was born Hiroyoshi […]
Ain Soph are a Japanese symphonic/jazz-rock band behind the 1980 Nexus album A Story of Mysterious Forest, followed in 1986 with Hat and Field. They returned with the 1991/92 Made In Japan discs Marine Menagerie and Five Evolved From Nine. Documents of their 1976–78 period form the Belle Antique archival disc Ride on a Camel: […]
Himiko Kikuchi — 菊池ひみこ (born March 2, 1953) — is a Japanese jazz-funk keyboardist and composer who released six albums on Continental between 1980 and 1984, followed by a pair of titles on CBS/Sony during the late 1980s. Discography: Don’t Be Stupid (1980) All Right (1981) Flashing (1981) Refrain (1983) Woman (1983) Reverse It (1984) […]
Haruko Kuwana — 桑名晴子 (May 19, 1959) — is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter who released two albums on Philips at the close of the 1970s, followed by four albums on Japan Record between 1980 and 1985. Discography: Million Stars (1978 • Haruko) Show Me Your Smile (1979) Hot Line (1980 • Baker’s Shop […]
Food Brain was a Japanese jam-rock band that released the 1970 Polydor album Social Gathering. Members: 陳信輝 [Shinki Chen] [Shinki Chen] (guitar), Masayoshi Kabe (bass), Hiro Yanagida (organ), Hiro Tsunoda (drums) Background Food Brain formed in late April 1970 when guitarist Shinki Chen and keyboardist Hiro Yanagida teamed with bassist Masayoshi Kabe and drummer Hiro […]
The Freedom Unity were a Japanese jazz-rock band that released the album Something on Liberty in 1970, followed by four albums on assorted labels in 1971, most notably the Victor release Down by the Naked City. Members: Akira Ishikawa (drums), Hiromasa Suzuki (electric piano), 鈴木弘 [Hiroshi Suzuki] (trombone), 稲葉国光 [Kunimitsu Inaba] (double bass), 村岡建 [Takeru […]
Flower Travellin’ Band was a Japanese hard-rock/psych quartet that debuted with the 1970 Philips album Anywhere, followed by the 1971–73 Atlantic titles Satori, Made in Japan, and Make Up. Satori was a catalyst of maximalist rock in the Far East. Members: 石間秀樹 [Hideki Ishima] (guitar), 小林ジュン [Jun Kobayashi] (bass), 和田ジョージ [Joji Wada] (drums), ジョー山中 [Akira […]
Electro Keyboard Orchestra were a Japanese jazz-funk super-group that released a self-titled album on Nippon Columbia in 1975. Members: Akira Okazawa, Hideo Ichikawa, Hiromasa Suzuki, Ken Yajima, Kentaro Haneda, Masahiko Satoh, Masao Yagi, Sadayasu Fujii, Shigeto O’Hara, Shuichi Murakami, Yuji Ohno Discography: Electro Keyboard Orchestra (1975)
Eri Ohno (大野えり) is a Japanese jazz vocalist who released six albums between 1979 and 1983 on Better Days, followed by two mid-1980s titles on Interface and Express. Background Eri Ohno was born January 23, 1955, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. She sang from kindergarten age and developed an early interest in Western music. Ohno entered […]
Douji Morita — 森田童子 (Jan. 15, 1952 — April 24, 2018) — was a Japanese folk-psych singer/songwriter behind the 1975–77 Polydor albums Good Bye, Mother Sky, and A Boy, followed by the 1980–83 Atlantic titles Un deux trois, Yasoukyoku, and Wolf Boy. Background Morita Douji was born on January 15, 1952, and grew up in […]
Cosmos were a Japanese jazz-pop trio that debuted with an album on Express in 1981, followed by five albums on Canyon between 1982 and 1984. Members: Keiko Doi, Roman Kaieda, Yumiko Tanaka Discography: Session III (various, 1981) 漂流 (Hyoryu) (1981) Bourbon Suite (1982) Can Can Can (1982) Musitopia (1983) Lensman: Sound Fantasy (TV, 1984) 夢想都市 […]
Chu Kosaka — 小坂忠 (July 8, 1948 — April 29, 2022) — was a Japanese singer/songwriter who emerged as the frontman of Apryl Fool. He went solo with the 1971 Mushroom album Arigato and made six further titles through the 1977 Showboat release Morning, including the 1975 city pop classic Horo. In the 1990s, he […]
Chakra (チャクラ) was a Japanese symphonic/art-rock band that made the 1980/81 Victor albums Chakra and Satekoso, followed by the 1983 Vap release Nanyo de Yoisho. Members: 小川美潮 [Mishio Ogawa] (vocals), 板倉文 [Bun Itakura] (guitar, keyboards), 勝俣慎吾 [Shingo Katsumata] (keyboards), 友貞一正 [Kazumasa Tomosada] (bass), 横澤龍太郎 [Ryutaro Yokosawa] (drums), 近藤達郎 [Tatsuo Kondo], Fumiaki Itakura, Donbay Nagata, 清水一登 […]
Carmen Maki & Oz were a Japanese symphonic/hard-rock band that released a 1975 self-titled Polydor album, followed by two further albums and a 1978 live disc on Kitty Records. Members: Carmen Maki, Hirofumi Kasuga, Osamu Takeda, Shigeyuki Kawakami, 鳴瀬喜博 [Yoshihiro Naruse] Background Carmen Maki & OZ formed in 1972 when singer Carmen Maki teamed with […]
Blues Creation was a Japanese hard-rock band that debuted with a 1969 Polydor album, followed by two 1971 Denon albums, including one with vocalist Carmen Maki. Members: Kazuo Takeda (guitar, vocals, harp, keyboards, percussion), Fumio Nunoya (vocals), Yoshiyuki Noji (guitar), Jun Shinozaki (bass), Mamoru Shimura (organ), Ko Eiryu (guitar), Shinichi Tashiro (drums), Hiromi Osawa (vocals), […]
Bow Wow was a Japanese hard-rock/metal band behind a 1976 album on Victor Musical Industries, followed by the 1977/78 Invitation titles Signal Fire, Charge, Guarantee, and Super Live. They reemerged with the 1980/81 SMS albums Glorious Road and Hard Dog, then closed out their first run with the 1982/83 albums Asian Volcano, Warning From Stardust, […]
Bingo Miki & Inner Galaxy Orchestra were a Japanese jazz-rock big band that released two albums on Three Blind Mice at the close of the 1970s, followed by a second pair of albums on Kitty Jazz at the start of the 1980s. Members: – Discography: Back to the Sea (1978) Montreux Cyclone (1979) The Eve […]
Bi Kyo Ran (美狂乱) are a Japanese symphonic-rock band behind the 1982/83 Nexus albums Bi Kyo Ran and Parallax, followed by five live discs and the 1995 album Go-un on Belle Antique. Members: Suma Kunio (guitar, vocals), Shiratori Masahide (bass), Nagasawa Masaaki (drums), Yoshinaga Shinji (bass), Sugita Takako (violin), Kuno Masumi (keyboards), Sato Masaharu [aka massA] […]
Ann Lewis — アン・ルイス (born June 5, 1956) — is a Japanese pop singer who released more than 25 albums between 1972 and 1998 on Victor. She emerged with the 1974 ballad “Good Bye My Love” and moved toward disco and rock with the late-1970s singles “Koi no Boogie Woogie Train” and “Onna wa Sore […]
Akira Wada (born 1956) is a Japanese guitarist best known for his work with jazz-rockers Prism. Between 1981 and 1984, he released a string of solo and collaborative albums on Warner, Moon, and TDK. Discography: The Guitar (1981) Out & About (1983) Love Islands (1984 • Akira Wada with Friends) Yellow Moon (1984) American Romance […]
Akira Takasaki — 高崎晃 (born Feb. 22, 1961) — is a Japanese guitarist who played in the teen-pop act Lazy during the 1970s. In 1981, he formed the long-running metal band Loudness, which released nine studio albums and two live discs by decade’s end. As a solo artist, he premiered with the 1982 B&M released […]
Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffalos were a Japanese free-jazz ensemble that released thirty-plus albums between 1969 and 1985 on Columbia, Denon, and Toshiba, including the 1970 jazz-rock classic Electrum. Members: Akira Ishikawa (drums, bongos), Masaoki Terakawa (bass), 佐藤允彦 [Masahiko Sato] (piano, clavinet), Hiromasa Suzuki (piano, electric piano, keyboards), 杉本喜代志 [Kiyoshi Sugimoto] (guitar, electric guitar), 村岡建 […]
Alan Hull (1945—1995) was an English singer-songwriter from Newcastle, best known as the mastermind of folk-rockers Lindisfarne. As a solo artist, he debuted with the 1973 Charisma release Pipedream. Alan Hull was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on February 20, 1945. Discography: Pipedream (1973) Squire (1975) Phantoms (1979) On the Other Side (1983) Another Little Adventure […]
The Communards were an English electro/art-pop duo from London comprised of ex-Bronski Beat vocalist Jimmy Somerville and keyboardist/programmer Richard Coles. The pair issued a 1986 album on London Records, followed in 1987 by Red with corresponding singles. Members: Jimmy Somerville (vocals, keyboards, programming), Richard Coles (piano, keyboards, organ, programming) Background The Communards formed in 1985 […]
The Gadgets were an English electro/experimental trio that issued two albums on small-press Final Solution in 1980, followed by a third on Glass Records in 1983. After musician Matt Johnson departed to focus on The The, two further Gadgets albums appeared on Plastic Head Records Limited during the late 1980s. Members: Colin Lloyd Tucker, John […]
The Danse Society was an English goth-rock band that released the 1981 independent singles “Clock” and “There Is No Shame In Death,” followed by the 1982–83 albums Seduction and Heaven Is Waiting on Society Records. As Danse Society International, they concluded with the 1986 Society release Looking Through. Members: Steve Rawlings (vocals, 1980-87, 2009-10), Paul […]
Asiko was a Nigerian Afro-rock septet behind the 1976 EMI album Rock Group, followed by the 1977 Gorrilla release Take a Trip With Asiko. Members: Njoubi Basile (bass), Z. Joseph Bolandi (vocals, keyboards), Ntaillou Idrissou (guitar), Ndovmbe Jylvand (trumpet), Essombe Antoine Madie (vocals, percussion), Paul Monnu (drums), Evgene Ndema (guitar) Background Asiko converged in West […]
AB’S were a Japanese sophisti-pop band that released four albums on Moon Records between 1983 and 1988. Members: 芳野藤丸 [Fujimaru Yoshino] (vocals, guitar), Makoto Matsushita (vocals, guitar, 1982-84, 2003-present), 安藤芳彦 [Yoshihiko Ando] (keyboards, 1982-85, 2003-05), 渡辺直樹 [Naoki Watanabe] (bass, 1982-85, 2003-present), 岡本郭男 [Atsuo Okamoto] (drums, 1982-85, 2003-present), 長谷部徹 [Yoshinobu Kojima] (keyboards, 1988), 松原秀樹 [Hideki Matsubara] […]
5X were a Japanese hard-rock band, fronted by vocalist Carmen Maki, that released three albums on Eastworld between 1982 and 1983. Members: ジョージ吾妻 [George Azuma] (guitar), 盛山キンタ [Kinta Moriyama] (bass), Carmen Maki (vocals, 1981-83), 原田ジュン [Jun Harada] (drums, 1981-83) Discography: LAFF (1980 • Carmen Maki & LAFF) Human Target (1982) Carmen Maki’s 5 X (1983)
Giant Step were an Indonesian symphonic/hard-rock band that released a string of albums on Irama Tara and other labels between 1975 and 1985. The band was led by ex-Shark Move guitarist/vocalist Benny Soebardja, who had fronted local beat sensation The Peels during the 1960s. Members: Benny Soebardja (guitar), Dedy Stanzah [Deddy Sutansyah] (bass, 1971-72), Sammy […]
Guruh Gipsy was an Indonesian symphonic/gamelan band that self-released a 1977 cassette-album. They included prolific Jakarta bassist Chrisye — aka Christian Rahadi — who appeared on the soundtrack to the Teguh Karya dramatic feature Badai pasti berlalu, released concurrently on Irama Mas. Members: Guruh Soekarnoputra (gamelan, gentorak, percussion, vocals), Chrisye (bass, vocals, vocals, 1969-?), Keenan […]
Garuda was a jazz-rock studio group comprised of English library musicians led by bassist Toni Campo, who named the project after the bird-like national symbol of Indonesia. Their self-titled album appeared in 1977 on EMI. Members: Toni Campo, Tony Coe, Henry Lowther, Frank Ricotti, Jeff Daley, Zack Laurence, Dave Horler Discography: Garuda (1977)
Abbhama was an Indonesian symphonic/art-pop band that released the 1978 cassette-album Alam Raya on Tala & Co Record. Pianist-bandleader Iwan Madjid headed the 1980s Jakarta acts Cynomadeus and WOW! Members: Iwan Madjid (vocals, piano), Oni (keyboards) Darwin B. Rachman (bass), Robin (drums), Dharma (flute), Cok B (guitar), Hendro (oboe) Background Abbhama formed in Jakarta in […]
Witch was a Zambian zamrock band, formed circa 1971 and active fourteen years with seven albums on the ZMP, Teal, and Gallo labels. Their 1975/76 albums Lazy Bones!! and Lukombo Vibes drew foreign ears to the African nation’s zam/psych sound. Guitarist John Muma and bassist Gedeon Mulenga also appeared on the 1975 album Black Power […]
Ngozi Family was a Zambian zamrock band behind eight 1974–78 albums on ZMP and Chris Editions, two co-billed to drummer Chrissy Zebby Tembo. Their namesake, guitarist-singer Paul Ngozi, also recorded as a solo artist. Members: Paul Ngozi (lead guitar, vocals), Chrissy Zebby Tembo (drums, backing vocals), Tommy Mwale (bass, backing vocals), Peter Bwalya (rhythm guitar, […]
The Otis Waygood Blues Band was a Zimbabwean hard-rock/psych combo, active eleven years from 1968 in their adopted market of Johannesburg, South Africa. They made three albums on Parlophone circa 1970/71, culminating with Ten Light Claps and a Scream. Members: Martin Jackson (vocals, flute), Ivor Rubinstein (vocals, percussion), Rob Zipper (vocals, guitar, saxophone), Benny Miller […]
Michael Gibbs (born September 25, 1937) is a Rhodesian jazz-rock and Third Stream trombonist, keyboardist, composer, conductor, and producer. He attained bandleader status in 1970 after a decade of transcontinental jazz credits. Through 1975, he headed four jazz-rock/big band albums and released a collaborative set with vibraphonist Gary Burton. Gibbs later entered production and soundtrack […]
Tirogo was a Nigerian Afro-funk/psych band that released three albums between 1977 and 1980 on EMI. Their first album, Float, gained newfound popularity after its late-2000s reissues on Shadoks and QDK. In 2013, Afrobeat merchants Voodoo Funk selected the Tirago tracks “Disco Maniac” and “We Like to Party” — culled from the band’s 1978 Aiyé […]
Ofege was a Nigerian Afro-psych band formed by Obalende teenagers. They made the 1973–75 EMI albums Try and Love and Last of the Origins, which drew international ears to the West African scene. On Polydor, they returned with the 1977/78 albums Higher Plane Breeze and How Do You Feel? Members: Melvin “Noks” Ukachi (vocals), Felix […]
Peter King (1939 – August 29, 2023) was a Nigerian Afrobeat musican who released four albums on Orbitone between 1975 and 1978 and a further two on Grandstar Records. During the 2000s, he became an icon of the Rare Groove community when his lost 1974 album Shango appeared for the first time on Afro Strut. […]
Nkengas were a Nigerian highlife ensemble that released two albums in 1973 on Orbitone. The band subsequently morphed into the Ikenga Super Stars of Africa. Members: Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe (vocals), George Atomba, Linus Opara, Pele Asampete Background Nkengas formed in London in 1973 when lead guitarist Vincent Okoroego and several fellow members of the […]
The Mebusas were a Nigerian Afro-funk ensemble that issued the album Blood Brothers on Afrodisia in 1973. Members: Chike Emegokwe (saxophone, flute), Harry Udofia James (trumpet), Fuzzy Gbagi (tenor sax), Raimi Olalowo (trombone), Laja George (drums), Williams Okolie (guitar), Cyril (organ), George Neuville (vocals) Mebusas’ brass/woodwind players were ubiquitous on the West African scene. Harry […]
The Funkees were a Nigerian Afro-funk band that released five singles and the 1974–76 albums Point of No Return and Now I’m a Man. The band also co-headlined For You Specialy, a 1978 solo release by guitarist-vocalist Harry Mosco. Members: Harry Mosco (guitar, vocals, gong), Chyke Madu (drums, vocals), Sonny Akpabio (congas), Jake N. Sollo […]
Jake Sollo was a Nigerian guitarist who was active during the 1970s and early ’80s. He first recorded for Lagos psych-rock quintet The Hykkers, which released two singles on His Master’s Voice in 1971. This was followed by a lengthy stint in London-based Afro-funk group The Funkees, which recorded numerous singles and two albums over […]
Colomach was a Togolese Afro-funk band behind a self-titled 1974 album on EMI Nigeria. Background Colomach formed around northern Togolese musician Gneni Mamadou. Surviving accounts associate the group with Mali, while Mamadou came from the Sahelian region of northern Togo. Colomach played alongside Ghanaian cultural-rock contemporaries Hedzoleh Soundz and Edzayawa. Both groups combined regional traditional […]
Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 — April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer who globally popularized Afro-beat with a 1960s Columbia album run. The following decade, he joined stateside Afro-jazz ensemble Ju Ju, which morphed into Oneness of Juju after two albums. In the wake of Manu Dibango‘s breakout Afro-funk success, Olatunji also cut the […]
Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express were an English jazz-rock ensemble that released six studio albums and a two-volume live series on RCA Victor between 1971 and 1976. They were a followup to Trinity, Auger’s late-’60s band with vocalist Julie Driscoll. Members: Brian Auger (Hammond organ, electric piano, keyboards), Barry Dean (bass, 1970-75), Alex Ligertwood (vocals, guitar, […]
Anthony Reebop Kwaku Baah (Feb. 13, 1944 – Jan. 12, 1983) was a Ghanaian percussionist who recorded five solo albums and did stints with several big-name jazz and rock acts on the U.S., U.K., and German scenes. He first appeared in 1968 on the album Out of the Frying Pan by English soul-jazz band Wynder K. Frog. […]
André Marie Tala (born Oct. 29, 1950) is a Cameroonian guitarist, percussionist, and vocalist who launched his career with the help of breakout local Manu Dibango. Tala cut multiple 1972/73 singles and led the Black Tigers before his Fiesta debut Hot Koki, then proliferated through the 1988 album Celle Qui T’a Aimé. Background André-Marie Tala […]
Bloody Mary was an American hard-rock/psych band that released a self-titled album on Artie Ripp’s Family Productions label in 1974. The album was produced by veteran songwriter and arranger Vinny Testa, whose prior credits include albums by Pookah, Frijid Pink, Liquid Smoke, and Bull Angus. Though the title has twice been reissued by the unofficial […]
Abstract Truth was a South African psych-rock band that released two albums in the early 1970s. The band was headed by former Freedom’s Children guitarist Kenny Henson, who later recorded solo and in partnership with singer/songwriter Brian Finch. The band’s second album, Totem, also features ex-Third Eye percussionist Robbie Pavid. Members: Kenny Henson (guitar, vocals), […]
Ekambi Brillant (June 18, 1948 – December 12, 2022) was a Cameroonian singer who emerged with Les Cracks and followed his 1972 Philips single “Ngand’a Ba Iyo” with the 1975 Fiesta release Africa Oumba, his first of five albums through the 1984 title Musiki Too Hot. Background Ekambi Brillant was born Ekambi Ekambi Louis Brillant […]
Sweet Talks were a Ghanaian highlife ensemble that gained international listeners with their 1976 release The Kusum Beat and made a subsequent album in Los Angeles. They later performed as Super Sweet Talks. Members: A.B. Crentsil, Ben Appiah, Ekow Tuyee, Joe Mensah, Lord Sekyi, Pope Flyne, Prince Foster, Prince Kelly Koomson, Smart Nkansah, Solo Mensah, […]
Marijata was a Ghanaian Afro-funk trio that released three albums in 1976 and 1977 on Gapophone. The trio functioned as both a sovereign unit and the backing band of singer-guitarist Pat Thomas, who led them in his earlier band the Sweet Beans. Members: Kofi “Electric” Addison (drums), Bob Fischian (organ), Nat Osmanu (guitar) Background Marijata […]
Hedzoleh Soundz was a Ghanaian highlife/Afrobeat band that debuted as a backing act to South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela on a 1973 album for Blue Thumb Records. The band released their own album, simply titled Hedzoleh, on EMI later that same year. Guitarist Jagger Botchway surfaced in the Kelenkye Band. Members: Stanley Kwesi Todd (bass), […]
Dick Khoza is a Malawi-born Afro-jazz/funk musician who released the album Chapita on the South African Sun (الشمس) label in 1976. The album features performances from Soul of the City trumpeter Themba Mehlomakulu and ubiquitous saxist Ezra Ngcukana, who also appeared on Barney Rachabane’s concurrent Sweet Matara LP. Background Dick Khoza grew up in Durban, […]
