Souzy Kasseya
b. July 1949, Shaba, Zaire. A leading light of the mid-80s, Paris-based soukous scene, guitarist and songwriter Kasseya began his career in the Zairean capital, Kinshasa, in the early '70s, as a session musician for vocalists like Sam Mangwana and M'Pongo Love. He also produced releases by Bebe Manga and François Lougha. Moving to Paris in the late '70s, he released his first album, PRINCESSE GYONNE, in 1979. This included the track Le Telephone Sonne, which as a single went on to become a massive hit in France and throughout central Africa. It was also released in the UK, by specialist label Earthworks, but failed to repeat its European success. In 1984, he toured the UK to coincide with the release of LE RETOUR DE L'AS,returning the following year as a member of Mangwana's backing band. Later that year, he released his first UK album, THE PHENOMENAL SOUZY KASSEYA,a firmly roots-based soukous set which successfully added hi-tech electronic effects and instrumentation to the mix. During the late '80s, he was most active as a session guitarist, working in Paris studios.