eMusic

Start Your Trial

TP OK Jazz

Biography

Led by influential guitarist and songwriter Franco (born: Francois Luambo Makiadi), TPOK Jazz helped to lay the foundation for the Congolese sound. Combining Cuba's son and rhumba tradition with Central African influences, the group provided some of the best dance music to come out of Africa in the 1960s, '70s, and early '80s. Sam Mangwana and Papa Noel were early bandmembers. Formed in 1955, TPOK Jazz took its name from the OK Bar, where they served as house band. Although they recorded as early as 1956, the group suffered from the unstable political conditions that followed the emancipation of the Congo in 1960 and temporarily moved to Belgium. Returning to their homeland, after Mobutu assumed the country's presidency, TPOK Jazz rose to the upper echelon of African music. Their records sold well while their concerts sold out well in advance. Their success continued after the band split into two units, one based in Europe and one based in Zaire. TPOK Jazz's fortunes began to disintegrate in the late '80s when Franco was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. He died two years later on October 12, 1989. The group's popularity, however, has continued to grow. In 2001, the Music Network released The Rough Guide to Franco, featuring many tracks recorded with the band.
— Craig Harris , All Music Guide

Related Artists Ancestors, Peers and Acolytes

Similar Artists:

Laskino, El Ngomatchek, Otis Mbuta, Dona Mobeti, Nono Manzanza

“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”


Rolling Stone
Start Your Trial

Recently Viewed

Back
Forward

© 1998-2009 eMusic.com Inc. eMusic and the eMusic logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks in the USA or other countries. All rights reserved.

All Music Guide © 1992 - 2009 All Media Guide, LLC
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC

Facebook®, YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia® are registered trademarks of their respective owners, Facebook Inc., Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Neither Facebook Inc., Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. nor Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. are partners or sponsors of eMusic. eMusic uses the Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia API but is not endorsed or certified by Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia. eMusic does not pre-screen, monitor, endorse nor assume any liability for websites, contents, products, services or claims made by Facebook, YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia®.

Legal or copyright question regarding Facebook, YouTube, Flickr or Wikipedia content on eMusic? Please email us.