King Kennytone
Dancing Time With King Kennytone And His Western Toppers Band
GBR 7inch
Label: Soundway
Release Year: 2011
Style: Latin & Brasil & Afro
Tracks
1. Nwayo Twist
2. Suzzy Twist
King Kennytone, trumpeter and stalwart of the Nigerian Highlife scene of the 50s and 60s was the foremost purveyor of African twist in the early 60s. Following the massive dance craze of The Twist in the US and UK in 1961/2, Kennytone recorded his African Twist numbers at the same time in both English and Igbo. As with later imported styles such as soul and funk many broadcasters and journalists of the day criticised him for being concentrating on music that wasn’t African in origin but his records were huge hits and endure to this day (especially with the recent resurgence in late ’50s and early ’60s black Rock n’ Roll and R&B). Check!