By the time the 17-year-old Luambo Franco cut this record in 1955, he had already been playing professionally for three years – both with Ebengo de Wayon in Group Watam and as a solo recording artist for the Loningisa label.
Upon hearing him play at a Loningisa recording session in 1953, Loningisa owner Basile Papadimitriou gave him a nice guitar and signed a 10 year contract with the young guitarist, remarking, « Mon petit bon- homme, tu es appelé à un grand avenir ».
By 1955, he had become a national sensation – and was performing frequently to packed bars. His band would “borrow” equipment from the Loningisa studio to play these gigs, then return it before morning. When Papadimitriou discovered this, he was angry at first – but quickly realized that supporting his stars should be his priority and he allowed the band to continue their nightly withdrawals of instruments and equipment.
This record was originally released on the Loningisa label for distribution within Belgian Congo. These LON series discs on the HMV label were then made for distribution outside of Congo. I believe they are master pressings and sound great!
Recorded in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) on October 14, 1955.
Released as His Master’s Voice LON. 1023.
Originally released as Loningisa No. 129
Credits:
Franco (Luambu François) – guitar
Antoine Kibongué – organ (Hammond Solovox)
Augustin Moniania “Roitelet”- bass
José – vocals
The flip side, “Bayini Ngai Mpo Na Yo” can be heard at:
https://youtu.be/S7W2rJ3Gfq8
Source:
Dictionnaire Des Immortels De La Musique Congolaise Moderne
by Jean-Pierre François Nimy Nzonga
https://www.editions-harmattan.fr/catalogue/livre/dictionnaire-des-immortels-de-la-musique-congolaise-moderne/37369
