"With Congolese music back in fashion thanks to Staff Benda Bilili and Jupiter, here's a timely reminder of a great Kinshasa pioneer of Congolese rumba, who started out in the pre-independence era. Wendo Kolosoy died in 2008, at 82. A one-time boatman, he became popular in the 1940s thanks to the lilting song Marie Louise, said to have the magical ability to raise the dead. But he stopped singing until 1992, when he was enticed back to record Nani Akolela Wendo?. Now remastered, it's an African classic, due to his light, charming songs (including Marie Louise) and easy, sometimes yodelling vocals. Another album, Banaya Papa Wendo, is patchier, but impressive for a man in his late 70s." (Guardian)
"Antoine Wendo Kolosoy (1925 ? 2008), known as Papa Wendo, was a Congolese musician. He is considered the "Father" of Congolese rumba, also known as soukous, a musical style blending son cubano, beguine, waltz, tango and cha-cha. His first international hit, in 1948, was "Marie-Louise", co-written with guitarist Henri Bowane. Through the publicity of "Radio Congolia", along with the controversy which followed the song (a back-and-forth between Wendo and Henri over Wendo's pursuit of a girl, thwarted by Henri's wealth, with salacious undertones), the song became a success throughout West Africa. With its success came trouble: the song had "satanic" powers attributed to it by Catholic religious leaders. Stories from the time even claimed that the song, if played at midnight, could raise the dead." (Wikipedia)|
"n July 2004, the Festival au Carré organised for Wendo Kolosoy to fly into Europe and record this CD. Born in 1925 in the northeast of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Wendo was initially a mechanic on the riverboats that ply the River Congo. He became the definitive crooner on African stages and singer-songwriter of hits that marked the history of African music. He was the precursor or inventor of the Congolese rumba. What is important is the music we offer you here: the last recording of a voice polished by life, by the years. A voice that is rough, wild and funny, that bears its own story and passes on the pain, madness and lust for life and singing that is Wendo Kolosoy." (Womex)
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