Duke Amayo
(Abraham) "Duke" Amayo is a Nigerian musician, composer, singer, and former frontman of the Afrobeat band Antibalas for 23 years.[1]
Biography
In 1995, he moved to NYC where he designed clothes and taught Kung Fu in his storefront, the Afrospot Temple,[2] a dojo and venue in pre-gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He put on fashion shows with models from the Fashion Cafe walking to live Nigerian percussionists. He had his own clothing line, AMAYO.[3]
In 1998, two guys came into his Afrospot and asked him to be part of a new band, Antibalas.[4] His Afrospot became their rehearsal space and where Daptone Records was founded. They put on many parties and events there.
After joining Antibalas, Amayo spent a year teaching himself to play the piano and wrote his first tune, “M.T.T.T. (Mother Talker, Tick Tock)” in 2000, (nominated for a GRAMMY[5] in 2020).
Songs on the "Fu Chronicles" album all written by Amayo include, "Fist of Flowers[6]" based on the Kung Fu movement, "Flower Fist." Other songs he wrote like, "Gold Rush" and "Tombstown" were about the ancestors.[7]
He performed at the Apollo with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley as part of the Daptone Soul Revue, which was also made into a documentary.[8] He was the face and lead singer for the band for 23 years, who many affectionately called the spirit of Antibalas, as the only authentic Nigerian in the band.[9]
Songs in the repertory include ‘Amenawon’,[10] "Lion Awakes", "Happy Lion", "Fist of Flowers' and "MTTT" first put out in his "Kung Fu Lessons of Life" album in 2002.[11]
‘Fu Chronicles’ sets the tone for the type of music he's been performing on tour. He has a new album under his own name, AMAYO, being recorded at Diamond West studios in LA.[12][13]
He left Antibalas to launch is solo career as AMAYO.[14] Since then he brought his new band to Nigeria to perform for the first time at Felabration, 2022.[15] He debuted his new band[16] at BAM, Brooklyn,[17] along with a run of shows on the East and West Coast in 2023.
Partial discography
- Antibalas, “Fu Chronicles”, February 7, 2020
- Henry Cole & Villa Locura, “Buscando La Vida”, November 19, 2021
- Amayo, “Osun Osogbo”, August 16, 2021
- Armo, “Armo”, February 13, 2019
- Antibalas, “Where the Gods Are in Peace”, September 15, 2017
- Antibalas, “AWOL 45”, October 18, 2012
- Antibalas, “Antibalas (Self-Titled), August 7, 2012
- Professor Wouassa, “Dangerous Koko!”, February 4, 2011
- Melvin Gibbs, “Ancients Speak”, March 17, 2009
- Antibalas, “Security”, March 7, 2006
- Antibalas, “K-Leg and R.O.C.”, January 1, 2006
- Antibalas, “Government Magic”, January 1, 2005
- Antibalas, “Who is this America”, October 19, 2004
- Red Hot +Riot, “Red Hot + Riot”, October 15, 2002
- Antibalas, “Talkatif”, March 1, 2002
- Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra “Afrobeat Disciples (Reissue)”, 2002
- Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra, “Afrobeat Disciples”, January, 2002
- Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeats”, April 9, 2001
- Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeat Volume 1”, 2001
- Antibalas Tour EP, 2001
- Antibalas, “Uprising” April 9, 2000
Television appearances
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon NBC Television. August 24, 2012.
Music videos
- Antibalas - "Fight Am Finish" (Official Music Video)]
- "Gold Rush" (Official Music Video)]
- Antibalas "Dirty Money" (Official Music Video)
References
- ^ Simon, Scott (February 8, 2020). "Antibalas' 'Fu Chronicles' Is A Martial Arts-Inspired Testament To Afrobeat". NPR. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ "Dojo Risin': Amayo, Antibalas, Music and the Martial Arts". Relix Media. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "Duke Amayo… Afrobeat Lion Roars In Lagos". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Rohter, Larry (2012-08-06). "Waiting in Brooklyn for the World to Catch Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ "Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Antibalas Talk 'Fu Chronicles,' Kung Fu And Their Mission To Spread Afrobeat". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Gutterman, Scott (2019-12-11). "Amayo: Fist of Flowers". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Renoncourt, Francois (2019-05-24). "Antibalas, 20 years of afrobeat and kung-fu spirit (2/2)". PAM - Pan African Music. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Hughes, Hilary (2021-09-27). "Revisiting Daptone Records' Halcyon Moment at the Apollo". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ "Antibalas Announces Vocalist Duke Amayo's Departure". JamBase.
- ^ Blumenfeld, Larry (May 1, 2020). "Album Review: 'Fu Chronicles' Antibalas written by Duke Amayo" (PDF). Jazziz (51): 1.
- ^ Downes, Michael (2009-07-22). "Introducing Antibalas Offspring Fu-Arkist-Ra". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "Amayo Announces Spring Tour, City Winery and Colony Woodstock Shows". NYS Music. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Johnson, Reed (2012-08-15). "Review: A superb turn by Antibalas at the Echoplex". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "Amayo Leaving Antibalas". NYS Music. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (2022-11-08). "NATIVE Exclusive: Duke Amayo Is Coming Home". The Native. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "In Focus: Amayo Debuts New Band at BAMcafé in Brooklyn". NYS Music. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ Sissler, James (2022-11-21). "PHOTOS: Former Antibalas Singer Duke Amayo Brings New Solo Project To Brooklyn". L4LM. Retrieved 2023-05-21.