Kokomo | |
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Origin | London, England |
Genres | Soul, funk |
Years active | 1973–1991, 2008–2009 2014–present |
Website | http://www.kokomo.band |
Members |
Frank Collins Paddy McHugh Tony O'Malley Neil Hubbard Mel Collins Jim Mullen Jody Linscott Jennifer Maidman Helena-May Harrison Frank Tontoh |
Past members |
Dyan Birch Alan Spenner Terry Stannard Glenn LeFleur Tony Beard John McKenzie Chris Mercer Andy Hamilton Mark Smith Neal Wilkinson Neil Conti Adam Phillips Bernie Holland |
Kokomo is a British band whose members were prime exponents of British soul in the 1970s. They released three albums, and the second Rise & Shine was described as "the finest British funk album of the 1970s".
Formed in May 1973 by Tony O'Malley and Terry Stannard, ex-members of the pop group Arrival, 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). Spenner and Hubbard were from the Grease Band, Birch, McHugh, F. Collins and O'Malley from Arrival and M. Collins from King Crimson. Kokomo's first performance was at The Pheasantry, King's Road, Chelsea in 1973, where the band's roadie Franky Blackwell, coined the band's name. Kokomo built an early reputation in the UK pub rock scene. Linscott joined when the band played at Dingwalls and she performed with them whilst working there as a waitress.