Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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MACK, Bunny

(b Cecil Bunting MacCormack, '40s, Freetown, Sierra Leone) African singer/composer. Took up harmonica and penny-whistle at age six, made first public appearance at eight. Moved on to banjo, sang in church choirs, took up guitar; played with friends in band called the Daverns incl. broadcasts, but kept his name off the air because of parental displeasure. Took stage name Kenny Marson, joined Soundcasters '66; band went to UK and released first single '67; two years later 'Oh How I Miss Her' was a minor UK hit but problems with the Home Office forced them to leave for Germany; they performed in Europe for a year but then split up. He joined a series of groups, finally in late '70s teamed with Akie Dean, also from Sierra Leone, prod. of the Afronationals and a man with definite ideas about crossover music: second single with Dean 'Funny Lady'/'Discolypso' on Rokel/Discolypso label brought commercial breakthrough; 12]im[ single 'Let Me Love You'/'Love You Forever' confirmed success. First LP Let Me Love You '81 became disco hit, sold 100,000 in Nigeria alone. Using the best session players such as Alfred Bannerman, George Lee, Jake Sollo and Papa Mensah, his disco/funk/calypso fusion featured English lyrics and a thumping dance beat; voted Musician of the Year by Africa Music magazine and gold disc for Let Me Love You; Supafrico '81 continued in successful discolypso direction.