Duke Amayo Explained

(Abraham) "Duke" Amayo is a Nigerian musician, composer, singer, and former frontman of the Afrobeat band Antibalas for 23 years.[1]

Biography

In 1995, he moved to New York City, US where he designed clothes and taught Kung Fu in his storefront, the Afrospot Temple,[2] a dojo and venue in pre-gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He put on fashion shows with models from the Fashion Cafe walking to live Nigerian percussionists. He had his own clothing line, AMAYO.[3]

In 1998, two guys came into his Afrospot and asked him to be part of a new band, Antibalas.[4] His Afrospot became their rehearsal space and where Daptone Records was founded. They put on many parties and events there.

After joining Antibalas, Amayo spent a year teaching himself to play the piano and wrote his first tune, “M.T.T.T. (Mother Talker, Tick Tock)” in 2000, (nominated for a GRAMMY[5] in 2020).

Songs on the Fu Chronicles album all written by Amayo include, "Fist of Flowers[6] " based on the Kung Fu movement, "Flower Fist." Other songs he wrote like, "Gold Rush" and "Tombstown" were about the ancestors.[7]

Amayo performed at the Apollo with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley as part of the Daptone Soul Revue, which was also made into a documentary.[8] He was the face and lead singer for the band for 23 years, who many affectionately called the spirit of Antibalas, as the only authentic Nigerian in the band.[9]

Songs in the repertory include ‘Amenawon’,[10] "Lion Awakes", "Happy Lion", "Fist of Flowers' and "MTTT" first put out in his "Kung Fu Lessons of Life" album in 2002.[11]

‘Fu Chronicles’ sets the tone for the type of music he's been performing on tour. He has a new album under his own name, AMAYO, being recorded at Diamond West studios in Los Angeles.[12] [13]

Amayo left Antibalas to launch his solo career as AMAYO.[14] Since then he brought his new band to Nigeria to perform for the first time at Felabration, 2022.[15] He debuted his new band[16] at BAM, Brooklyn,[17] along with a run of shows on the American East and West Coast in 2023.

Partial discography

Television appearances

Music videos

Notes and References

  1. News: Simon . Scott . February 8, 2020 . Antibalas' 'Fu Chronicles' Is A Martial Arts-Inspired Testament To Afrobeat . 1 . NPR . May 18, 2023.
  2. Web site: 2020-06-01 . Dojo Risin': Amayo, Antibalas, Music and the Martial Arts . 2023-05-19 . Relix Media . en-US.
  3. Web site: 2022-10-15 . Duke Amayo… Afrobeat Lion Roars In Lagos . 2023-05-19 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  4. News: Rohter . Larry . 2012-08-06 . Waiting in Brooklyn for the World to Catch Up . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-21 . 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Antibalas Talk 'Fu Chronicles,' Kung Fu And Their Mission To Spread Afrobeat . 2023-05-19 . www.grammy.com.
  6. Web site: Gutterman . Scott . 2019-12-11 . Amayo: Fist of Flowers . 2023-05-19 . The Brooklyn Rail . en-US.
  7. Web site: Renoncourt . Francois . 2019-05-24 . Antibalas, 20 years of afrobeat and kung-fu spirit (2/2) . 2023-05-19 . PAM - Pan African Music . en-US.
  8. Hughes . Hilary . 2021-09-27 . Revisiting Daptone Records' Halcyon Moment at the Apollo . 2023-05-21 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  9. Web site: Antibalas Announces Vocalist Duke Amayo's Departure . JamBase.
  10. Blumenfeld . Larry . May 1, 2020 . Album Review: 'Fu Chronicles' Antibalas written by Duke Amayo . Jazziz . 51 . 1.
  11. Web site: Downes . Michael . 2009-07-22 . Introducing Antibalas Offspring Fu-Arkist-Ra . 2023-05-19 . The Village Voice.
  12. Web site: 2023-03-31 . Amayo Announces Spring Tour, City Winery and Colony Woodstock Shows . 2023-05-19 . NYS Music . en-us.
  13. Web site: Johnson . Reed . 2012-08-15 . Review: A superb turn by Antibalas at the Echoplex . 2023-05-19 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2021-11-06 . Amayo Leaving Antibalas . 2023-05-19 . NYS Music . en-us.
  15. Web site: Esomnofu . Emmanuel . 2022-11-08 . NATIVE Exclusive: Duke Amayo Is Coming Home . 2023-05-19 . The Native . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2022-11-22 . In Focus: Amayo Debuts New Band at BAMcafé in Brooklyn . 2023-05-21 . NYS Music . en-us.
  17. Web site: Sissler . James . 2022-11-21 . PHOTOS: Former Antibalas Singer Duke Amayo Brings New Solo Project To Brooklyn . 2023-05-21 . L4LM . en-US.

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