One of the greatest musicians you've probably never heard of....

[ovidsen]

So I'm tired of the global warming debate, and Obama, and the pitiful public services provided by the old farts here in Atlanta. The city that can't do anything right. Low taxes? You don't get what you don't pay for.

Let me introduce you to John Kongos. He's a white guy. born in South Africa, back when apartied was the law, Nobel prize winner Nelson Mandela was in prison, and Kongos didn't like it one bit. He had a couple of marginal hits in the early 1970s, then settled down, married, had a bunch of sons, and is now living in Arizona, still married, a family man, and he still has a message. What a concept! A rock musician with a rock solid personal life. He has his own Web site, but I'm more interested in giving his music a little push, so after listening to his work, you can (if you wish) Google him in a second.

Song number one. "He's Gonna Step on You Again". It's a cynical song that basically says that blacks in South Africa don't have a prayer as long as whites hold the reins of power. Click below. If your PC is hooked up to a sound system, play it loud. Really loud. Historical note. The Guinness Book of World Records lists this song as the first popular tune to use "sampling". Kongos has politely deferred that honor, claiming all he was using was analog tape loops of native African drumming, not digital "sampling".

He's Gonna Step On You Again

The next tune you will surely want to hear is one about the Devil. Or in the words of Kongos "Tokoloshe Man". It has a Christian theme, but it's the "make your enemy your friend" kind of Christianity, not the "kill the fornicators and homosexuals" brand. Click below to hear it. And turn it up. Loud. Dance.

"Tokoloshe Man"

I hope you enjoy John's music as much as I enjoyed writing this post.

(edited to correct my typical stupid typos)

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Kicking for later referral

and to nitpick: Music Concrete, back to the 1950's and perhaps earlier, was sometimes entirely tape editing of natural and (painstakingly) synthesized sound. Sort of a sonic "found object" collage.

A very early drum, or rhythm machine, also used tape loops.

Thanks for the post, I hope to check it out.

[ovidsen]

3. Kongos' polite rejection of the Guinness honor speaks for itself

He knows he didn't invent "sampling" or "tape loops". The person or people who did it first remain a mystery.

It's like every good comedian admits (or should admit). There's no such thing as an original joke. They're all just different versions of the same jokes that have been told since humans first learned to talk.

Thanks for the feedback, and I hope you enjoy the music.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Thanks for bringing someone like this to everyone's attention!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. replying to listen later on tonight. Thanks for the link. n/t

[tigereye]

4. always glad to hear about new (to me) musicians...

thanks~