Joseph Kabasele

Joseph Tshamala Kabasele Le Grand Kallé
Promotional photo of Kabasele for the Opika record label in the early 1950s
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Athanase Tchamala Kabasele
Born	(1930-12-16)16 December 1930 Matadi, Belgian Congo
Died	11 February 1983(1983-02-11) (aged 52) Paris, France
Genres	African Rumba
Years active	1953–?
Labels	Surboum African Jazz

Joseph Athanase Tshamala Kabasele (16 December 1930 in Matadi, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) – 11 February 1983 in Paris, France), popularly known as Le Grand Kallé, was a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the father of modern Congolese music. He is best known for his role as leader of the band, Le Grand Kallé et l'African Jazz, in which capacity he was involved in a number of noted songs, including Indépendance Cha Cha.

Le Grand Kallé was born Joseph Athanase Tchamala Kabasele in Matadi, Bas-Congo in what was then the Belgian Congo, modern Democratic Republic of Congo. He came from a prominent Congolese family, which included Cardinal Joseph Malula Kallé went to secondary school and became a typist at a succession of commercial firms in the capital of the Belgian Congo, Léopoldville.

In the early 1950s at a new recording studio called Opika he received an opportunity to pursue a career in music. His first group was OTC, led by George Doula.

In 1953, disillusioned with the lack of modernisation at OTC, he formed l'African Jazz which thought to be the most important Congolese band.L'African Jazz was one of the most popular early African Rumba bands. At its height, L'African Jazz included big names like guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, saxophonist Manu Dibango and singers Tabu Ley Rochereau, Sam Mangwana and Pepe Kalle.