Dream Duet: Franco and Grand Kalle

 

This duet should have occurred especially since both of them sung with Tabu Ley. I will do two duet posts of Tabu Ley with a former Empire Bakuba leader and one of the co-founders of Zaiko Langa Langa. Who are the two men that I am speaking of whom sung with Tabu Ley. 

I am speaking of Grand Maitre Franco and Pere de la rumba Grand Kalle. These two men made their remark in Congolese Rumba. Rumba music that has gone throughout much of Africa in much thanks to these two men. 

I am upset that Franco did not do an actual duet with Grand Kalle. If there was anyone Franco should have sung with let alone do a duet album with was Grand Kalle. Grand Kalle was the one who trained the voice of Pepe Kalle who Franco loved so much. Unlike Pepe, Grand was also a tenor singer. Grand Kalle was a perfect tenor singer. He never had a bad day vocally speaking. The songs speak for itself. 

Franco and Grand Kalle would have been perfect because listen to the song Ngungi that Franco sang with Tabu Ley. Had Franco sung a song like that with Grand Kalle, it would have been fire. Franco has a wild expressive voice while Grand Kalle has a sweet tenor romantic voice. That gives people something to work with. 

In fact I got twenty songs that would be perfect between Franco and Grand Kalle 

1) La simplicité de bulundwe by Franco 

2) Finga Mama Munu by Mujos 

3) Liwa ya Wech by Franco

4) Mbanda na Ngai by Kwamy Munsi 

5) Miwela Miwela by Grand Kalle

6) Connaissance Koyebana by Tabu Ley 

7) Bougie ya Motema by Dr. Nico (Nico Kasanda) 

8) Zadio by Dr. Nico (Nico Kasanda)

9) Maseke ya Meme by Bavon Marie Marie 

10) Republique du Zaire by Kwamy Munsi

11) Garie a Marie by Franco

12) Loboko ya Litema by Grand Kalle

13) Mosala Mibali ya Bato by Franco

14) Tomesani Zonga Coco by Vicky 

15) Bana OK Jazz by Franco

16) Moussa Muana ya Congo by Kwamy 

17) Ebale ya Kongo by Grand Kalle 

18) Kalle Catho by Grand Kalle

19) Bakoka te Financee by Bavon Marie Marie 

20) Essous Spiritou by Grand Kalle

These songs would have demonstrated the great chemistry between Franco and Grand Kalle. If Franco was perfect with Tabu Ley, you would have seen more fire with Grand Kalle and Franco himself. The best two examples where Franco and Grand Kalle would have been extraordinary for them would be the following:

MIWELA MIWELA 

MOSALA MIBALI YA BATO

These songs would have been the great chemistry between them especially the emotional tenor sound of Grand Kalle and also the strong baritone note of Franco. It would convince people that they were sincere in what they were singing about. I believe these songs would have been better done if these men had sung instead of singing it with Tabu Ley or Edo Nganga though they are exceptional singers.  

Franco and Grand Kalle would have been stronger as legends had they made a duet song or a duet album.