Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique / Congo: Tchico Tchicaya

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Tchico Tchicaya
(Congo-Brazzaville)

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Tchico Tchicaya can show a career of more than 30 years, starting in 1970 as a singer in a Brazzaville based band named Manta Lokoka. From 1972 to 1974, he was one of the solo singers of Les Bantous de la Capitale, one of the most important bands of Brazzaville at the time.

Between 1977 and 1979, Tchico stayed in Nigeria where he recorded 4 albums. By then he was already successful and had earned his nickname la voix d'or. In that period, he sang together with Lolo Lolita and together they had one of their biggest hits Jeannot, an all-time classic.
In 1983, Tchico went to Paris well before many other Congolese musicians did the same thing. He recorded for various record companies, and his band frequently changed names, from Afro Festival via Les Evadés de Ponton la Belle to Les Officiers de la musique africaine. Since the early 1990s his star is one the wane, and later in the same decade, he settled in Australia where he created a new band Warako Musica together with Passi Jo.

Musicians on Soukous Machine (1987):
Tchico Tchicaya lead vocals
Jacqueline Brouta vocals on "Doudou pas quitté moin" and backing vocals
Samba Kadhy Bell backing vocals
Denis la Cloche solo guitar
Casanova de Ketchel rhythms guitar
Remy Salomon bass
Denis Hekimian drums
Lolitta Babind percussion
Tony keyboards
Jean-Marie Kabongo saxophone
Jean-Claude Léandre trumpet

Born: as Pambou-Tchicaya Tchico
Style: soukous.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Ya Banganga	200?	Ndule Productions	With Passi Jo & Warako Musica
Jeannot (1981/1982)	2000	Sono CDS 7028	CD reissue, & Lola Lolita
Soukous Machine	19??	Kilimandjaro Records KRL 001 / F170CD	CD compiled from LP Soukous machine and Dégagez la route
Africa Dance Machine	1995	Sonima SM 1106	& Soukouss Machine
Dégagez la route	1993	C.G. Production CG 22.04-2	& Soukouss Machine
African Carnaval	1990	ACP Music ACP 004	& Orchestre Kilimandjaro
Cocktail Tropical	1989		& Orchestre Kilimandjaro
L'ambiance à Paris	1988	Black Music BM 008	& Orchestre Kilimandjaro
Soukous Machine	1987	Kilimandjaro Records KRL 001	& Orchestre Kilimandjaro
Dynamic Afro-Soukous	1986	Afro-Rythmes 1000 (also LPC 2007)	& Orchestre Kilimandjaro
L'argent domine le monde	1985	MCL 217	& Les Officiers
Full Steam Ahead	1985	Globestyle ORB 007	& Les Officiers
Nostalgie d'Afrique	1984	Afro-Rythmes 0990 (also Globestyle ORB 007)	& Les Officiers
Amour maternel	1983	Maikano MAILPS 1040	& Empire Musicana
Mon enfant	1983	Maikano MAILPS 1039	& Empire Musicana
Giselle	1983	Maikano MAILPS 1038	& Empire Musicana
Amie Clara	1982	LIR 089	& Les Evadés de Ponton la Belle
Tania	1982	LIR 030	& Les Evadés de Ponton la Belle
Rosalie	1981	BIR 002 (also Sonafric SAF 50112-1983)	& Les Evadés de Ponton la Belle
Jeannot	1981	BIR 001 (also Sonafric SAF 50111-1983)	& Les Evadés de Ponton la Belle
Lucia - Feu rouge	1980	MAILPS 1014 (also MAILPS 1030 and GBR 3810)	& Empire Musicana
dans Tam Tam d'Afrique	19??	Africana Star 50099	& Lolo Lolita
Méditation	1980	Sonafric SAF 50099	& Empire Musicana
L'heure a sonné	1979	Sonafric SAF 50110	& Afro Festival
Operation soukous	1979	ENLPS 62 (also Sonafric SAF 50095 - 1979)	& Afro Festival
Amie Clara	1978	ENLPS 52 (also Sonafric SAF 50094 & 50100)	& Ponton la Belle & Lolo Lolita
Mamy Rosa / Josintha	1978	ENLPS 50 (also Sonafric SAF 50093 - 1979)	& Ponton la Belle & Lolo Lolita
From Congo to Nigeria	1977	ENLPS 42 (also Sonafric SAF 50091 - 1979)	& Ponton la Belle & Lolo Lolita
Ah Ponton la Belle	1976	Editions Vévé 2095	& African Kings
Sambela Sambela	1975	Editions Vévé 1245	& African Kings
Shanta-Maguy	1974	BG 1006	& African Kings
Santana	1974	BD 1090	& Les Bantous de la Capitale
Celia - Shantina	1973	BG 892	& Les Bantous de la Capitale
Isabelle	1972	BG 880	& Les Bantous de la Capitale
Loemarthe	1971	BG	& Manta Lokoka
Rina	1970	BG 045	& Manta Lokoka