Tabu Ley Rochereau (real name: Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu) (13 November 1937 – 30 November 2013) was a leading African rumba singer-songwriter from the Democratic Republic Of The Congo (previously called Zaire). He was the leader of Orchestre Africa International, as well as one of Africa's most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters. Along with guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley pioneered soukous (African rumba) and internationalised his music by fusing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American rumba. He has been described as the "African Elvis" by the Los Angeles Times. Tabu Ley was born in the western city of Bandundu and first started singing in church and school choirs. His career took off shortly before the country's independence from Belgium in 1960 when he moved to Kinshasa. He went into exile in the 1980s during Mobutu Sese Seko's long rule, returning after his overthrow in 1997. The musician then went into politics, serving amongst other roles as a deputy governor of Kinshasa and a provincial cultural minister. He died in hospital in Belgium on 30th November 2013 after a long illness.
Links To Peel[]
Peel discovered Tabu Ley Rochereau through the record label Sterns which regularly sent records imported from Africa to Peel: he generally showed a liking for his style along with other African musical genres. Peel regularly played Rochereau's music in the 80's and 90's, but as with music trends, Soukous music became much faster, with Rochereau's music considered being out of touch. Despite this, many modern Soukous artists consider Tabu Ley Rochereau as the pioneer of Soukous music and so popular was he that when Rochereau died in November 2013, his country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, declared a day of mourning and his funeral took place in the country's parliament.
Shows Played[]
Tabu Ley Rochereau - Savon Omo
- 1981
- 23 September 1981 (with L'Orchestre Africa Fiesta: Savon Omo () ASL
- 1983
- 06 December 1983: Bafosami (LP - Faux Pas) Genedia
- 15 December 1983: Bafosami (LP - Faux Pas) Genedia
- 1984
- 04 January 1984 (BFBS): Bafosami (album - Faux Pas)
- 27 June 1984 (BFBS): Gagne Gagne, Perdu Perdu (LP - Loyenghe) Genidia
- 1989
- 06 June 1989: Sorozo (LP - Babeti Soukous) Real World
- 12 June 1989 (BBC World Service): Sorozo (LP - Babeti Soukous) Real World
- 13 June 1989: Mosolo (LP - Babeti Soukous) Real World
- 1990
- 09 August 1990: 'Lisanga Ya Bambanda (LP-Ba Gerants Ya Mabala)'
- 13 August 1990: Bafosami (LP - Faux Pas) Genidia
- 1991
- 26 October 1991: Seli-Ja
- 1992
- 13 June 1992: Bar Jeu De Coin (Unknown) Genidia Records
- 1993
- 23 January 1993: 'N' Sea (CD-Lisanga Ya Banganga)' (Sonodisc)
- 29 January 1993: Forgive Me (album - Lisanga Ya "Banganga") Sonodisc
- 1994
- 07 January 1994: 'Mokrano (LP - Le Peuple)’ (African)