Dr nico kasanda biography
Dr nico kasanda biography
Remembering Dr. Nico: A Congolese Music Pioneer!
Nico Kasanda
Congolese musician (1939–1985)
| Background information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Nicolas Kasanda wa Mikalay |
| Also known as | Docteur Nico |
| Born | (1939-07-07)7 July 1939 Mikalayi, Belgian Congo |
| Died | 22 September 1985(1985-09-22) (aged 46) Brussels, Belgium |
| Genres | Congolese rumba and Soukous |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1957 – c.
1975 |
Nicolas Kasanda wa Mikalay (7 July 1939 – 22 September 1985), popularly known as Docteur Nico, was a guitarist, composer and one of the pioneers of Congolese music. He was born in Mikalayi in the Belgian Congo.
He graduated in 1957 as a technical teacher, but inspired by his musical family, he took up the guitar and in time became a virtuoso soloist.[1][2][3][4]
At the age of 14, Kasanda started playing with the group Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz, led by Joseph "Grand Kalle" Kabasele.
He became an influential guitarist (Jimi Hendrix visited him while on tour in Pari