Preston Epps

Preston Epps (given birth to 1931 in Oakland, CA) even now performs in night clubs in Southern California as well as the Southwest area of america. A one-hit-wonder, Epps obtained lots 14 pop strike in 1959 with “Bongo Rock and roll,” but following singles felled on deaf ears. He discovered to try out the bongos along with other percussion tools through the Korean Battle while stationed in Okinawa. When his responsibilities finished, he forsook North California for Southern Cali, sustaining himself by operating odd careers; he hung round the growing beatnik, hippie arranged by frequenting coffeehouses, and pounding the skins for the appreciative mind. DJ Artwork Laboe found out Epps in a comfy, laid-back coffeehouse and authorized him to his recently founded Original Audio Information. Epps’ “Bongo Rock and roll” became the label’s 1st strike; Laboe released another solitary, “Bongo, Bongo, Bongo,” in 1960 that slotted 64 positions lower. Epps 1st recording, Bongo Bongo Bongo, fallen in 1960 within the pumps of the next single and do okay. However, following singles, “Bongo within the Congo,” “Bongo Rocket,” “Bongo Boogie,” “Flamenco Bongo,” “Mr. Bongo,” “Bongo Shuffle,” along with other Bongo derivatives didn’t generate any curiosity. Two even more albums, Bongola (1961) and Surfin’ Bongos (1962), proceeded to go unnoticed; you’ll find choose recordings by Epps on several vinyl and Compact disc compilations. The Amazing Bongo Band up to date “Bongo Rock and roll” (Epps co-wrote the instrumental with Arthur Egnoian, a pseudonym for Arthur Laboe) and rode it to quantity 73 in 1973. Epps performed a bongo participant in the film Girl In Platinum Footwear, released in 1969. The flick was in regards to a draft-dodger, a drifter, and his wannabe-dancer sweetheart; all obtain implicated inside a murder centering around medicines, sex, and rock and roll & move in the past due ’60s. Epps did extensive session function, including an appearance on Gypsys’ debut LP for Metromedia Information. Still energetic, Epps plays a number of night clubs in Southern California including Monteleone’s Western world, the Lozano Restaurant, as well as the Atlas Supper Membership.