Boomp3.com
Artist: Dr. Nico & L’Orchestre African Fiesta Sukisa
Track: Afrique De L’Ouest
Label: African
Catalog#: African 90.449
Format: Vinyl, 7”
Released: 1970
Country: France
Credits:
It wasn't easy to find a reliable on-line biography for Dr. Nico, so I decided to post some solid facts courtesy of The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music.
“Dr. Nico (born Nicolas, Kasanda Wa Mikalay, July 7th, 1939, Luluaborg, Zaire), graduated in 1957 as a technical teacher, but inspired by his musical family (his father was an amateur accordionist, his brother, Mwamba Dechaud, an excellent rhythm guitarist), he took up the guitar and in time became a virtuoso soloist.
"A founder member of the seminal group, African Jazz, led by Joseph Kabaselle, Nicolas became the influential guitarist in the modern Congo sound, acquiring the name ‘Dr. Nico’ following his performances with the band during the 1960 independence celebrations. According to influential soukous guitarist, Diblo Dibala, Dr. Nico was "the school of Zairean guitar".
"African Jazz split when Dr. Nico and singer Rochereau left to form the L’Orchestra African Fiesta, which became one of the most popular in Africa, spawning many imitators and making dozens of singles".
"He withdrew from the music scene in the mid-70’s following the collapse of his Belgian record label. Feeling that he’d been cheated, Dr. Nico played the odd show and made a few singles but waited for a better deal, which came in 1983 with Africa New Sound, based in Lome, Togo. He made a couple of LPs in Paris in 1984-85 and arranged for his first release on the African Music Gallery label, when his death robbed Africa of one of its best musicians. Dr. Nico died in Brussels on September 22nd, 1985".
Weird, as I researched this, it happened by chance to be September 22nd, so I played many a tribute record to the great man.
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