Episode 24: Franco & OK Jazz Special
Today’s episode of Tropicology is another treat for the holiday season. The subject of today’s show is one musician, arguably the most influential in the history of African music. I have never met anyone from Africa who does not know this artist, and yet most Americans would not even recognize the name. If, among all the international musicians featured on Tropicology, I had to name just one figure as the most tragically underexposed in the United States, it would certainly be the subject of today’s show.
The musician in question is a composer, guitarist, and bandleader from The Congo. The simple version of his birth name is Luambo Makiadi; he adopted the name Francois in the common convention of taking a Western name. When he became a professional musician he shortened Francois to the name that he is known by today: Franco. His band was the OK Jazz, and they would become the most broadly recognized, emulated, and beloved act in the history of African popular music.
A Franco & OK Jazz retrospective on today's Tropicology.
- 12:02pm Ah Bolingo Pasi by Franco & OK Jazz on OK Jazz Vol. 1 & 2 (EMI)
- 12:04pm Es Mi Cumpleanos by OK Jazz on The Loningisa Years (Planet Ilunga)
- 12:07pm Rumba de Ondo Ondo by Franco et l'Orchestre OK Jazz on African Retro Vol. 4 (Pathe Marconi EMI)
- 12:10pm Corre Yo Te Llamo by OK Jazz on The Loningisa Years (Planet Ilunga)
- 12:13pm Tcha-Tcha-Tcha de mi Amor by Franco & OK Jazz on single (Pathe Marconi)
- 12:16pm Tscha-Tscha Del Zombo by OK Jazz on The Loningisa Years (Planet Ilunga)
- 12:19pm La Fiesta by Franco & OK Jazz on African Retro Vol. 4 (Pathe Marconi)
- 12:22pm Instrumental by Franco & OK Jazz on Zaire 74 (Chisa)
- 12:24pm Bolingo Ya Bougie by Franco & OK Jazz on Bridge Over the Congo (Parlaphone)
- 12:27pm Grupo OK Jazz by Grupo OK Jazz on Congo Revolution (Soul Jazz Records)
- 12:30pm Aimee No Bolingo by Franco & OK Jazz on OK Jazz No 4 (Pathe Marconi)
- 12:33pm Revolver by Franco & OK Jazz on L'Afrique Danse No. 3 (African)
- 12:36pm Polo by Franco & OK Jazz on Pont Sur Le Congo (Pathe Marconi)
- 12:40pm Instrumental Dance Chant by Franco et le T.P. OK Jazz on Zaire 74 (Chisa)
- 12:42pm Ngai No Boya Na Boyate by Franco & OK Jazz on single (Ngoma)
- 12:45pm Tika Nedeka No Te by Franco & OK Jazz on The Sound of Kinshasa (Original Music)
- 12:48pm Oyo Mobali Tapale by Franco & Ok Jazz on L'Afrique Danse No. 6 (African)
- 12:52pm Colonel Bangala by Franco & OK Jazz on A Paris (Pathe EMI)
- 12:56pm Tsia Koi Bon Tchele by Franco & OK Jazz on Les Merveilles du Passe 1963 (African)
- 1:02pm Cafe by Vicky & OK Jazz on single (Pathe)
- 1:04pm Niongo Na Yo Nakofuta by Franco & OK Jazz on DJ Qbico Plays Franco & The OK Jazz Vol. 2 (Qbico)
- 1:08pm Mbanda Ozwui Kizungu Zungu by Franco & OK Jazz on Les Merveilles du Passe 1963 (African)
- 1:11pm Da Da De Te Amor by Franco & OK Jazz on African Party (African)
- 1:14pm Ngai Tembe Eleka by Franco & OK Jazz on single (Fiesta)
- 1:17pm A Moins que Namikosa by Franco & OK Jazz on single (Surboum African Jazz)
- 1:21pm Ezui Voisin by Franco & OK Jazz on single (Editions Populaires)
- 1:25pm Ku Kisantu Kikwenda Ka by Franco & OK Jazz on DJ Qbico Plays Franco & The O.K. Jazz (Vol. 1) (Qbico)
- 1:27pm Likambo Ya Ngana by Franco et OK Jazz on (single) (Fiesta (FP))
- 1:33pm Matata by Franco & OK Jazz on single (African)
- 1:37pm Casier Judicaire by Franco & OK Jazz on single (ASL)
- 1:41pm Owawa by Franco & OK Jazz on single (African)
- 1:44pm Ba A.K. Batele Wa by Orchestre OK Jazz on DJ Qbico Plays Franco & The OK Jazz (Qbico)
- 1:46pm Muasi Oweli Bela by Franco & OK Jazz on OK Jazz 1964 No 1 (Pathe Marconi)
- 1:49pm Infidelite Mado by Franco & OK Jazz on L'Afrique Danse (African)
- 1:55pm Muana Oyo by Franco et OK Jazz on Editions Populaires (African)
- 1:58pm Matema Na M.J. by Orchestre OK Jazz on DJ Qbico plays Franco & The OK Jazz (Qbico)