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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTABU LEY(b Pascal Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabou, c.1940, Bandundu, Zaire, then called the Belgian Congo; d 30 November 2013, Brussels) Singer, composer, bandleader, aka Rochereau; an African superstar, having written over 2,000 songs, released over 150 albums, leading the development of Congolese music from the 78rpm era to the present. He began early, assimilating indigenous styles and the music of the Catholic Church; wrote 'Besame Muchacha' at 14, a hit recorded by Kabaselle. He joined Kasabelle and African Jazz '59, wrote hit 'Kelia'; he left '63 to form African Fiesta with Dr Nico (prolific singles compiled on LPs Authenticité, two vols, Succès D'Hier). He left Nico '65 to form his own African Fiesta National, innovating ever after with new instrumentation, elements of salsa, soul, etc within the basic framework of soukous, the Congolese rumba that was popular across Africa. In the late '60s he toured Africa and carried on a prodigious recorded output; for many fans the pristine beauty of his recordings of this era remains unequalled: La Musique Congolaise de Variétés (two vols), L'Afrique Danse (vol. 4), Tango Ya Ba Vieux Kalle No. 2. He renamed the band Afrisa International '70, performed at Olympia Theatre in Paris, A L'Olympia (two vols) capturing relaxed and lilting classic dance music. On his return home he was fêted as a national hero; Afrisa began to become a training ground for a new generation including Sam Mangwana and Mbilia Bel (with whom he had a child); two volumes of Afrisa International from this period were long available. When the regime of Mobuto Sese Seko changed the name of the country to Zaire and called for a rejection of colonial influences, Tabu adopted the stage name Rochereau. He retired temporarily '75 to look after business affairs but returned triumphant at the Nigerian festival (two-disc FESTAC 77). By the mid-'80s he had established his own production company, Genidia, and was gathering international fame, touring USA, Japan, Europe. Albums alternated driving dance beat with slower haunting ballads: En Amour Y'a Pas De Calcul and Maze '82, Femmes D'Autrui and two-disc Loyenghe '83, In America and Sarah '84, African Selection '85. He was still in good voice and still touring in the 1990s, even collaborating with 'new wave' star Ami Koita; albums included Bebeti Soukous on Realworld, made with an invited audience in Peter Gabriel's studio, a good time had by all. Opposed to the Mobuto regime, he was out of the country from the riots in Kinshasha in 1991 until Mobuto was ousted in 1997, and spent much of that time in the USA. On returning to the newly renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo he went into politics, forming a political party and becoming a member of parliament. He suffered a stroke in 2008 and moved to Brussels for treatment. |