Kokomo (band)

Kokomo
Origin	London, England
Genres	Soul
Years active	1973–1991
Past members
Dyan Birch Frank Collins Paddy McHugh Tony O'Malley Alan Spenner Neil Hubbard Mel Collins Jody Linscott Terry Stannard Jim Mullen Mark Smith Glen LeFleur Tony Beard John McKenzie Chris Mercer Andy Hamilton Neal Wilkinson Neil Conti John Sussewell Sian

Kokomo was a band whose members were prime exponents of British soul in the 1970s.

Career

Formed in May 1973 by ex-members of the pop group Arrival (band), Kokomo's ten-piece line-up became: Dyan Birch (vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Paddy McHugh (vocals), Tony O'Malley (keyboards, vocals), Alan Spenner (bass), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Mel Collins (saxophone), Jody Linscott (percussion), Terry Stannard (drums) and Jim Mullen (guitar). It drew personnel from defunct UK bands: Spenner and Hubbard from the Grease Band; Birch, McHugh, Collins and O'Malley from Arrival; and Collins from King Crimson. Kokomo built an early reputation in the UK pub rock scene. In 1975 it toured with Dr. Feelgood and Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers on the 'Naughty Rhythms' tour, and appeared at the Reading Festival.

Musicians who played with the band at different times included: Glen LeFleur (drums, The Olympic Runners), Tony Beard (drums), John McKenzie (bass), Chris Mercer (saxophone), Andy Hamilton (saxophone), Mark Smith (bass), Neal Wilkinson (drums) and Neil Conti (drums).

The band's first album, Kokomo, released in 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 bands) for its use of four featured vocalists. In 1975 Bob Dylan recruited the band to help record his Desire (Bob Dylan album) album. One song featuring the band, the Latin-flavored "Romance in Durango," appeared on the album; another, "Catfish," subsequently appeared on The Bootleg Series compilation. One cut left on the shelf was a disco funk-flavored version of "Hurricane."

Stannard, Linscott and Mullen left after the first album. Kokomo's second album, released in January 1976, was viewed as a disappointment by the NME and the band quickly lost impetus. Both albums sold in pitifully small quantities in Britain. Both charted in a small way in the States: Number 159 for the debut and Number 194 for the follow-up, whose lead track 'Use Your Imagination' crept to Number 81 in the U.S. R&B listings in mid-1976.

In January 1977 an indefinite hiatus was announced, with band musicians going separate ways. The last studio album released in 1982 after an extended sabbatical, contained a near hit single in 'A Little Bit Further Away' which peaked at Number 45 in the British chart. Versions of Kokomo continued to perform until Spenner died in August 1991. In May 2008 Kokomo was reformed temporarily with Mel Collins, Tony O'Malley, Neil Hubbard, Mark Smith, Adam Phillips, Andy Hamilton, Paddy McHugh, Dyan Birch, Frank Collins, Bernie Holland, and Glen Le Fleur.

Kokomo's first performance was at The Pheasantry, King's Road, Chelsea in 1973, where Franky Blackwell, the band's roadie, coined the band's name.

Former member Mark Smith died suddenly at his Battersea, London home, in November 2009.

Discography

• Kokomo (1975) (produced by Chris Thomas)
• Rise & Shine (1977) (produced by Brad Shapiro)
• Kokomo (1982) (produced Leo Graham and James Mack)
• The Collection (1991)
• To Be Cool (2004)

References

• The Illustrated New Musical Express Encyclopedia of Rock: Edited by Nick Logan and Bob Woffinden (1977).
• CD liner notes for The Collection (1991): by Michael Heatley of Vox Magazine.
• All Music Guide: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kokomo-p18716

External links

• Kokomo Live
• Kokomo Live
• Tony O'Malley
• Frank Collins Collins interviewed by Keef Trouble on his life in the music business
• Dailymotion.com
• Press reviews of Kokomo