Episode 6 of the popular series made for radio on the builders and influencers on Black Music in the twentieth century.
In todays episode, Storyteller makes the case why Tabu Ley Rochereau (1940-2013) singer, band leader, arranger, record producer and co-founder of Congolese Rhumba should have a seat at the Last Supper of the 12 Apostles of Black Music.
Storyteller turns the spotlight on the man from the Congo who took the artform of Rhumba from the Belgium Congo of the late 50's to an independent Democratic Republic of Congo (1960) where a renaissance of all things African was a necessary part of the 'expression' of independence: at the heart of this was Congolese music and folklore which formed the basis of Rhumba, expressed with different accents by Africans in Brazil, Caribbean and Latin America. Rochereau's triumph was to build the music in Congo and spread to the rest of the world by touring and recording with a legion of leading musicians, namely in Europe.
Storytellers palpable love for Congo Rhumba is contagious and the listener is drawn into both the education and Rochereau music.
The series; 12 Apostles of Black Music originally broadcasted on Australian outback radio in 2018 and has since become syndicated nationally and a popular on-demand and podcast to a worldwide audience. The original series developed by Dr Glen Yearwood, who is the storyteller.