THIS IS WHY YOU MUST KNOW VERCKYS

THIS IS WHY YOU MUST KNOW VERCKYS.

By the Jerome Ogola                             

1. He was a saxophone wizard. No one was good enough for Verckys in the history of Rumba Congolaise and beyond. He is creative and versatile. It is so good that he might be in charge of the instrument, selected to play it when Jesus finally comes back.

2. He is the biggest sax player and most recognised, to have played with Franco's TPOK Jazz (1961-1969).

3. He was the first Indigenous African to own a recording studio when he opened state of the art (then) Editions Veve in 1971.  Veve went ahead to nurture and produce the biggest names in the continent's music in the 70s, Zaiko, Lipua Lipua, Kiam, and Maquisards.

4. He is the only musician to retire from music. Music is addictive. Some retire only to find life out of stage too boring, only to sneak back. Others get broke and are forced by circumstances to retire. Others sing until they die.

5. His father was a wealthy businessman in Leopoldville. Unlike Franco who was a hoof eater from Sona Bata, Verckys came from a rich family. Good footballers and athletes rarely come from Elgon View. They always come from slums. Poverty is known to nurture talent.

6. He owned one of the biggest bands ever in the history of Congolese music, Orchestre Veve.

7. He is multi-talented. Apart from sax, he is also a singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and a talented studio engineer.

8. He is a Kimbangiste.  This sect was founded by Simon Kimbangu, a freedom hero of the DRC. He learned music in the church.

9. Apart from producing, he also managed two other bands Orchestre Kiam and Lipua Lipua. Kiam was a rebranded Bamboula that slipped off the hands of Papa Noel.

10. His hit song 'Nakomitunaka' is a philosophical composition that raises very fundamental issues about religion.

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