simonkashamabio

"Simon" Kabangu S. Kashama

Biography

Simon is a songwriter from Congo, former Zaire. He came to music as a chld, due to the influence of his father, a composer of religious music. simon began singing and playing guitar in Belgium at 16 years of age. It was in Belgium where he discovered American and Brtish music broadcasted on Radio Carolina and Radio Luxembourg. He often jokes that this is how he learned English, by listening to the music of James Brown, the Supremes, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles

It wass in 1983 in Dakar, Senegal, that Simon went public with his first song, "Yambi Yambi" (Welcome). The occassion was for a well-known French competition, Decouvertes, a talent search organized each year by Radio France Internationale. He participated for a second tme in 1986 with another song, "Bua Dinanga" (For love) which was written for the release of Nelson Mandela then. From his experience, he joined his first band, Select Alpha; a band playing a variety of musical genres for Club Med in Dakar, Senegal. It was a Club Med that he had the opportunity to collaborate with French celebrities such as Johnny Halliday and Phillipe Laville. It was also in Senegal that he wrote three songs for Tshala Muana, the number one dancer from Congo.

This native of Congo is also a multi-lingual speaker who sings in Swahili, Lingala, Tshiluba, and French. Simon is also a well-known mathe hteorist who is submitting what he believes to be proof for the Goldbach's Conjecture. Music and number hteory are his love.

In Chicago, Simon played with the master guitarist Mantuila Nyomo, bnad leader of the Soukous Soul Band from 1994-1997. This gave him the exposure to the Midwest musical scene, playing at well-known venues such as the Hothouse, Navy Pier, the Blind Pig, the Chicago Field Museum, and the Wild Hare.

Simon is currently involved in a project with Yves Francois et Rocambu Jazz on classical Congolese oldies. Just recently, Simon has been performing with Najib Bahri & El Amal, an North African Music group



		"Simon" Kabangu S. Kashama Biography

	Simon is a songwriter from Congo, former Zaire. He came to music as a chld, due to the influence of his father, a composer of religious music. simon began singing and playing guitar in Belgium at 16 years of age. It was in Belgium where he discovered American and Brtish music broadcasted on Radio Carolina and Radio Luxembourg. He often jokes that this is how he learned English, by listening to the music of James Brown, the Supremes, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles It wass in 1983 in Dakar, Senegal, that Simon went public with his first song, "Yambi Yambi" (Welcome). The occassion was for a well-known French competition, Decouvertes, a talent search organized each year by Radio France Internationale. He participated for a second tme in 1986 with another song, "Bua Dinanga" (For love) which was written for the release of Nelson Mandela then. From his experience, he joined his first band, Select Alpha; a band playing a variety of musical genres for Club Med in Dakar, Senegal. It was a Club Med that he had the opportunity to collaborate with French celebrities such as Johnny Halliday and Phillipe Laville. It was also in Senegal that he wrote three songs for Tshala Muana, the number one dancer from Congo. This native of Congo is also a multi-lingual speaker who sings in Swahili, Lingala, Tshiluba, and French. Simon is also a well-known mathe hteorist who is submitting what he believes to be proof for the Goldbach's Conjecture. Music and number hteory are his love. In Chicago, Simon played with the master guitarist Mantuila Nyomo, bnad leader of the Soukous Soul Band from 1994-1997. This gave him the exposure to the Midwest musical scene, playing at well-known venues such as the Hothouse, Navy Pier, the Blind Pig, the Chicago Field Museum, and the Wild Hare. Simon is currently involved in a project with Yves Francois et Rocambu Jazz on classical Congolese oldies. Just recently, Simon has been performing with Najib Bahri & El Amal, an North African Music group