DITUTALA-VERCKYS KIAMUANGANA MATETA AVEC ORCHESTRE VEVE

Verckys founded Editions Vévé in 1974. In 1976 he changed the name of his label to ZADIS (for "Zaire disc"). That year he issued "Papy Baluti" & "Muana Mburu" written by Francis Bitsoumani a.k.a. Celi Bitsou. The line-up at this time was Tino Muinkwa, Djo Roy, Nejos Tusevo, Pepitho Fukiau on vocals, Lambion on solo guitar, Aladji Baba on rhythm guitar, Ndolo & Celi Bitsou on bass, Bayard on drums, Ponta Vickys on congas, himself, Dibuidi and Sax Matalanza on saxes and Makamba on trombone. But after the success of "Muana Mburu," Celi Bitsou quit to go solo. [Source-MUZIKFAN]
Orchestre Vévé was a pioneering Congolese rumba and soukous band founded on April 5, 1969, by legendary saxophonist and entrepreneur Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta.
Founding and Early Success
Formation: Verckys founded the group in Kinshasa shortly after leaving Franco Luambo’s TP OK Jazz.
Innovations: The band is credited with modernizing the Congolese sound by introducing the Cavacha rhythm, which became a foundation for 1970s African music.
Key Hits: Early chart-toppers included "Mfumbwa," "Bankoko Baboyi," and "Fifi Solange".
Musical Influence and Label
Orchestre Vévé was the flagship of Verckys’ business empire, which included the Editions Vévé record label.
Nurturing Talent: Through this label and his state-of-the-art studio, Verckys produced and managed numerous iconic bands, including Empire Bakuba (Pepe Kalle), Zaiko Langa Langa, Bella Bella, and Orchestre Lipua Lipua.
Signature Style: The band's music featured a heavy saxophone presence and was known for philosophical hits like "Nakomitunaka," which questioned religious themes.
Key Members
The band served as a training ground for several prominent Congolese musicians:
Vocalists: Saak Saakul (Sinatra), Loko Massengo (Djeskain), and Mario Matadidi (who later formed Trio Madjesi).
Instrumentalists: Notable contributors included bassist Celi Bitshou (composer of the hit "Muana Mburu") and guitarists Danila and Jim.
Other members were-Tino Muinkwa,Nejos Tusevo,Djo Roy,Jean Pappy Ramazani,Jojo Ikomo,Pepe Kalle,Pepitho Fukiau,Pascal Mangwana.Guitarists-Roxy Tshimpaka,Lambion,Pierre Monongi Mopia,Aladji Baba,Celi Bitshou.Sax-Verckys,Sax Matalanza,Dibuidi,Drums-Bayard
Decline and Legacy
The band's prominence began to fade in the late 1970s as Verckys shifted his focus toward business, politics, and the management of his nightclub and record pressing plant. Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta, the "man with the lungs of steel," passed away on October 13, 2022.