Recorded live at Half Moon Pub on July 26, 2017
Kokomo are:
Tony O'Malley (vocals/keys) @TonyOMalley Frank Collins (vocals)Helena-May Harrison (vocals) @helenamaymusic
Charlotte Churchman (Vocals) Neil Hubbard (guitar)Jim Mullen (guitar) @jimmullenjazz Andy Treacey (drums) @andytreaceyJennifer Maidman (bass) @SisterGoodbass
Ross Stanley (organ)
Ally McDougal (percussion, vocals) @AllyMcDougal
British soul pioneers, KOKOMO, built their reputation and loyal following through the intensity of their live shows. Featuring some of UK's finest musicians and vocalists, recruited from bands such as Arrival, Joe Cocker’s Grease Band, King Crimson..., who shared a deep passion for American Soul music, Kokomo were in a class of their own and in 1975 took London by storm! They joined the seminal ‘Naughty Rhythms’ tour alongside Dr Feelgood and Chilli Willi & the Red Hot Peppers, and the band’s debut album is now considered a classic among collectors.
The band's first album Kokomo (1975) was hailed by the NME as the best debut by a British band for several years. Inspired by the tight disciplined playing of Spenner and Hubbard, Kokomo was unusual among white soul band, for its use of four featured vocalists. In 1975, Bob Dylan recruited the band to help record his Desire album. One song featuring the band, the Latin flavoured "Romance in Durango," appeared on the album; another, "Catfish," subsequently appeared on The Bootleg Series compilation. One track allegedly left behind was a disco funk version of "Hurricane". Stannard, Linscott and Mullen left after the first album. Kokomo's second album, Rise & Shine (1976), was viewed as a disappointment by the NME and the band quickly lost impetus. Both albums had sold poorly in Britain, but charted in the United States
Composer, singer, arranger, and keyboard player, Tony O'Malley was also a member of 100cc in 1977 and frequently guested on several albums by headline artists throughout the decades that followed.
A series of packed reunion gigs in 2014 with seven of the ten original members proved that Kokomo’s reputation as one of the finest 'groove' units ever to come out of this country remains largely intact. In November 2015 Kokomo were back with their old touring partners - the Average White Band in "Soul Summit" that sold out London’s Royal Festival Hall. Kokomo are still active and regularly play at the Half Moon Pub at Putney.
