Kokomo (band)

Formation and personnel

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.

Musicians who played with the band at different times included: Glenn LeFleur (drums), Tony Beard (drums), John McKenzie (bass), Chris Mercer (saxophone), Andy Hamilton (saxophone), Mark Smith (bass), Neal Wilkinson (drums) and Neil Conti (drums).

Kokomo album and Bob Dylan

The band's first album Kokomo (1975) was hailed by the NME as the best debut by a British band for several years. Inspired by the tight disciplined playing of Spenner and Hubbard, Kokomo was unusual among white soul band, for its use of four featured vocalists. In 1975, Bob Dylan recruited the band to help record his Desire album. One song featuring the band, the Latin flavoured "Romance in Durango," appeared on the album; another, "Catfish," subsequently appeared on The Bootleg Series compilation. One track left behind was a disco funk version of "Hurricane". Stannard, Linscott and Mullen left after the first album. Kokomo's second album, Rise & Shine (1976), was viewed as a disappointment by the NME and the band quickly lost impetus. Both albums had sold poorly in Britain, but charted in the United States at #159 and Number #194 for the follow-up, whose lead track "Use Your Imagination" reached #81 in the US Billboard and R&B chart in mid-1976.

Hiatus and further releases

In January 1977 an indefinite hiatus was announced, with band musicians going separate ways. The last studio album, released in 1982 after an extended sabbatical, contained a minor hit single in "A Little Bit Further Away", which peaked at Number 45 in the UK Singles Chart.

Second hiatus and re-emergence

Kokomo continued to perform with a fluid line up, until Spenner died in August 1991. In May 2008, Kokomo was reformed with Mel Collins, Tony O'Malley, Neil Hubbard, Mark Smith, Adam Phillips, Andy Hamilton, Paddy McHugh, Dyan Birch, Frank Collins, Bernie Holland and Glenn Le Fleur. In 2009, bass player Mark Smith died at his Battersea, London home.

2014 reunion and present

In August 2014, Sue Martin from Rootsaroundtheworld.com promoted a Kokomo revival tour which was received well at clubs in London. The personnel for these shows included Tony O'Malley (keyboard & vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Dyan Birch (vocals first show only), Paddie McHugh (vocals), Helena-May Harrison also known as Miss May (vocals), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Jim Mullen (guitar), Jennifer Maidman (bass), Nigel Hitchcock (saxophone), Frank Tontoh (drums), Glenn LeFleur (percussion). Further shows followed in 2014.

Further shows in 2015/2016 featured seven of the original members (Tony O'Malley (keyboard & vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Paddie McHugh (vocals), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Jim Mullen (guitar), Mel Collins (saxophone), Jody Linscott (percussion)) plus Jennifer Maidman (bass), Helena-May Harrison (vocals) and Frank Tontoh (drums). Kokomo appearing at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 21 November 2015 with the Average White Band as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Discography