Kid Creole And The Coconuts

Biography

August Darnell, born Thomas August Darnell Browder in the Bronx in 1950, began his musical journey early, exposed to diverse musical influences in his multicultural upbringing. His musical career started in 1965 with his brother in the band The In-Laws, followed by a brief detour into teaching English after obtaining a master's degree. In 1974, he and his brother reformed as Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, achieving a Top 40 hit and a gold record with their self-titled debut album, which was also nominated for a Grammy. Before forming Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Darnell produced for other artists, including Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band and Gichy Dan's Beachwood No. 9.

Darnell adopted the stage name Kid Creole in 1980, co-founding Kid Creole and the Coconuts with Andy Hernandez (Coati Mundi) and Adriana Kaegi. Kaegi conceived the name "The Coconuts," a trio of female backing vocalists/dancers she choreographed and costumed. Early Coconuts included Kaegi, Cheryl Lee Poirier, Fonda Rae, and Lourdes Cotton, with Lori Eastside also contributing. The band's debut album, Off the Coast of Me, received critical acclaim but limited commercial success. Their breakthrough came with Tropical Gangsters (retitled Wise Guy in the US) in 1982, which yielded several Top 10 hits in the UK and charted in the US. Throughout the 1980s, the band's lineup included key musicians like Peter Schott, David Span, Carol Colman, and Winston Grennan, often expanding to over a dozen members with horn players and percussionists. They collaborated with U2, providing backing vocals on their War album, and contributed to various film soundtracks, including Against All Odds. The band also released spin-off albums featuring The Coconuts and Coati Mundi. Kid Creole also formed Elbow Bones and the Racketeers, achieving a hit with "Night in New York." The band's success continued with appearances at prestigious events like the Montreux Jazz Festival and private performances for Princess Diana. A collaboration with Prince resulted in the hit single "The Sex of It."

Kid Creole and the Coconuts' music is a distinctive blend of disco, Latin American, Caribbean, and big band styles, inspired by the big band era and incorporating elements of Calloway-style performance. Darnell's zoot suit attire and theatrical stage presence, along with the Coconuts' glamorous costumes and choreography, created a unique visual spectacle. The band's lyrical cleverness and musical arrangements, particularly Darnell's compositional and production skills, were widely praised. While their commercial success varied over the years, Kid Creole and the Coconuts maintained a dedicated following and continued to tour and record, even after a period of inactivity. Their influence can be seen in subsequent artists who incorporated similar stylistic blends and theatrical elements into their performances. The band's legacy includes a body of work that stands as a testament to Darnell's creative vision and the group's unique musical identity.

Fun Facts

• Kid Creole's stage name was adapted from the Elvis Presley film King Creole.
• The Coconuts were originally choreographed and costumed by Adriana Kaegi.
• The band's live shows were known for their "outlandish dancing and cod theatricals."
• Kid Creole and the Coconuts performed at a private function for Princess Diana.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Cab Calloway - Inspired the band's conceptual style and performance.

Key Collaborators

• Andy Hernandez (Coati Mundi) - Co-founder, musical director, arranger, and on-stage comic foil.
• Adriana Kaegi - Co-founder, choreographer, costume designer, and original Coconut.
• Cheryl Lee Poirier - Lead vocalist on a Coconuts spin-off album.
• Peter Schott - Keyboardist and occasional co-composer.
• U2 - Kid Creole and the Coconuts provided backing vocals on U2's War album.
• Prince - Wrote and produced the song "The Sex of It" for Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
• Barry Manilow - Kid Creole and the Coconuts collaborated on the song "Hey Mambo."

Artists Influenced

• The Wikipedia source does not explicitly mention any artists influenced by Kid Creole and the Coconuts.

Enhanced with AI analysis

Source: Wikipedia

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
2. Stool Pigeon
3. I'm A Wonderful Thing, Baby (Tropical Gangsters)
4. Endicott (In Praise Of Older Women And Other Crimes)
5. My Male Curiosity (Anthology Vol. 1 & 2)
6. I'm Corrupt (Tropical Gangsters)
7. I'm A Wonderful Thing, Baby
8. I'm a Wonderful Thing Baby
9. Lambada (Private Waters In the Great Divide (Expanded Edition))
10. I'm A Wonderful Thing, Baby (Kid Creole Redux)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia- MusicBrainz

Tags: #boogie, #disco, #latin-disco