Kid Creole & the Coconuts

Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Kid Creole in concert in 1987
Background information
Origin	New York City
Genres	Latin, disco
Years active	1980–present
Labels	ZE, Island, Sire/Warner Bros.
Associated acts	Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Machine
Website	www.kidcreole.com
Members	August Darnell
Past members	Coati Mundi Fonda Rae Cory Daye Cheryl Poirier Adriana Kaegi Taryn Hagey Eva Tudor-Jones Jimmy Ripp (Rippetoe) Mark Anthony Jones Scott Johnson Peter Schott Carol Colman Winston Grennan Andrew Lloyd 'Bongo' Eddie Folk Simon 'Franco' Frost

Kid Creole and the Coconuts is an American musical group created and led by August Darnell. Its music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, in particular a mix of disco and Latin American, South American, Caribbean, Trinidadian, and Calloway styles and conceptually inspired by the big band era. The Coconuts are a trio of female backing vocalists/dancers whose lineup has changed throughout the years.

Thomas August Darnell Browder was born in The Bronx, New York City, USA on August 12, 1950. His mother was from South Carolina with Caribbean and Italian parents and his father from Savannah, Georgia. As an adult, Thom Browder began going by his two middle names as August Darnell.

Growing up in the melting pot of the Bronx, Darnell was exposed early on to all kinds of music. Darnell began his musical career in a band named The In-Laws with his brother, Stony Browder, in 1965. The band disbanded so Darnell could pursue a career as an English teacher. Darnell obtained a master's degree in English, but in 1974 again formed a band with his brother Stony Browder Jr. under the name Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. Their self-titled debut release was a Top 40-charting album which was certified gold and was nominated for a Grammy.

Darnell began producing for other artists, such as Don Armando’s Second Avenue Rhumba Band and Gichy Dan’s Beachwood No.9, before adopting the name Kid Creole (adapted from the Elvis Presley film King Creole) in 1980. The Kid wore zoot suits and danced onstage in a style reminiscent of films of the '30s and '40s, and fronted a multi-racial, multi-cultural band. The co-founders of the band were Darnell and his Savannah Band associate vibraphone player Andy Hernandez, also known as his "trusty sidekick" Coati Mundi. Hernandez served as Darnell's on-stage comic foil, as well as his musical director and arranger.