Preston Epps
Encyclopedia
Preston Epps is an American percussion
ist.
Epps learned to play percussion instruments, including the bongos
, while he was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean War
. After his tour of duty he settled in Southern California
, playing in coffee shops
and working odd jobs. Arthur Laboe, a local disc jockey
, signed him to Original Sound Records, which released his single "Bongo Rock" in 1959. The tune became a hit in the U.S., reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
that year. The follow-up, "Bongo Bongo Bongo", reached #78 the following year. Original Sound released a full-length LP in 1960, which reached #35 on the Billboard 200
. However, further bongo-themed singles, including "Bongo in the Congo", "Bongo Rocket", "Bootlace Bongo", "Bongo Boogie", "Flamenco Bongo", "Mr. Bongo", and "Bongo Shuffle", did not result in any further success.
Epps reappeared in 1969 as a bongo player in the film Girl in Gold Boots
. He continued on as a session musician
in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, the Incredible Bongo Band
covered "Bongo Rock" and released it as a single.
Epps continued playing in clubs in Southern California into the 1990s.
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
ist.
Epps learned to play percussion instruments, including the bongos
Bongo drum
Bongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
, while he was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. After his tour of duty he settled in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, playing in coffee shops
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
and working odd jobs. Arthur Laboe, a local disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, signed him to Original Sound Records, which released his single "Bongo Rock" in 1959. The tune became a hit in the U.S., reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
that year. The follow-up, "Bongo Bongo Bongo", reached #78 the following year. Original Sound released a full-length LP in 1960, which reached #35 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. However, further bongo-themed singles, including "Bongo in the Congo", "Bongo Rocket", "Bootlace Bongo", "Bongo Boogie", "Flamenco Bongo", "Mr. Bongo", and "Bongo Shuffle", did not result in any further success.
Epps reappeared in 1969 as a bongo player in the film Girl in Gold Boots
Girl in Gold Boots
Girl in Gold Boots is a 1968 crime/drama film about the seedy underworld of Go-Go dancing, directed by Ted V. Mikels, who also directed The Astro-Zombies.- Summary :...
. He continued on as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, the Incredible Bongo Band
Incredible Bongo Band
The Incredible Bongo Band, also known as Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band, was a project started in 1972 by Michael Viner, a record artist manager and executive at MGM Records. Viner was called on to supplement the soundtrack to the virtually anonymous B film The Thing With Two Heads. The...
covered "Bongo Rock" and released it as a single.
Epps continued playing in clubs in Southern California into the 1990s.
Singles
- Bongo Rock (#14)/Bongo Party—Original Sound 4 -- 1959
- Bongo Bongo Bongo (#78)/Hully Gully Bongo—Original Sound 9 -- 1960
- Bongo Shuffle/Bongo In The Congo—Original Sound 14—1960
- Blue Bongo/Bongola—Top Rank 2067—1960
- Bongo Hop/Caravan—Top Rank 2091—1960
- Bongo Boogie/Flamenco Bongo—Majesty 1300—1960
- Bongo Rocket/Jungle Drums—Original Sound 17—1961
- Rockin' In The Congo/Sing Donna Go—Embassy 203—1961
- Mister Bongos/B'wana Bongos—Donna 1367—1962
- Bongo Express/Flamenco Bongo—Admiral 901—1963
- Bongo Rock '65/Bongo Waltz—Polo 218—1965
- Afro Mania/Love Is The Only Good Thing—Jo Jo 106—1969
Albums
- Bongo Bongo Bongo (#35) -- Original Sound LPM-5002 (Mono)/LPS-8851 (Stereo) -- 1960
- Bongola -- Top Rank RM-349 (Mono)/RS-349 (Stereo) -- 1961
- Surfin' Bongos -- Origina Sound LPM-5009/LPS-8872—1963