Lenny Zakatek
| Lenny Zakatek | |
|---|---|
Lenny Zakatek in the Teatre Municipal d’Artà (2014)
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lenny du Platel |
| Also known as | "The Voice" on The Alan Parsons Project |
| Born |
29 July 1947 Karachi, British India |
| Origin | British |
| Genres | Funk, rock, blues, R&B, disco, soul, pop |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Labels | EMI, A&M |
| Associated acts | The Alan Parsons Project, Gonzalez, Pilot, Funky Fever, Trailblazers |
Lenny Zakatek (born Lenny du Platel, 1947, Karachi, British India), also known as "The Voice", is a pop and rock singer and musician who has lived in London since the age of thirteen. Zakatek was born just prior to Karachi becoming part of Pakistan and is best known for his work with the British bands Gonzalez and The Alan Parsons Project.
In 1964, Zakatek formed a rock band called The Trailblazers, as lead singer and rhythm guitarist. On their first tour of US military bases in Europe, they became familiar with the Motown sound. The Trailblazers returned to the UK with a new soul influence and were renamed Funky Fever. They toured the UK and Europe for several years and also played nightclubs in London, including Gulliver's, Whisky a Go Go, The Marquee, Ronnie Scott's, The Scotch of St. James and The Revolution. Funky Fever also backed Inez and Charlie Foxx and The Drifters on their European tours.
Lynsey de Paul and Dudley Moore took an interest in Zakatek's voice, look and stage presence in the early 1970s. De Paul dubbed him "Zakatek" and wrote two singles "I Gotcha Now" backed with "So Good To You" (later recorded by de Paul as the B-side on her hit single "Won't Somebody Dance With Me") and singles "Get Your Gun" backed with "Gotta Runaway". Ms De Paul introduced him to the UK through an article in the Daily Mirror entitled "Sugar Girl's Heap Big Find". The musicians who were featured on Zakatek's solo work were already known as some of the members of 10cc.
...
Wikipedia