Dream Duet: Franco and Pepe Kalle

 

Dream duet that I have been prepared to do. I should have done this years ago but I am ready to do it now anyway. I did four posts about these two men. Two editions in English and two other editions in French. These two are from different generations but managed to make their mark. 

I am speaking of Franco and Pepe Kalle. I did posts about these men on whether Pepe Kalle should have joined OK Jazz  or not with Franco. 

7 reasons why Pepe Kalle was right not joining OK Jazz

7 raison pourquoi Pepe Kalle avait raison pour ne joindre pas L'OK Jazz

7 reasons why Pepe Kalle should have joined OK Jazz

7 raisons pourquoi Pepe Kalle devrait avoir joint L'OK Jazz

Now I will say that Franco should have done duets with Pepe Kalle. If Franco was good with Madilu, imagine Pepe Kalle with Franco. I was not interested in talking about these men as a possible dream duet scenario. But after discussions of Franco and Madilu, I decided to speak on Franco and Pepe Kalle. 

Franco and Pepe Kalle should have done an album together. Why? Because these two men would have made a great dynasty like they did with Tabu Ley who I will do two dream duet posts soon afterwards. Also their voices would be born for one another. Now I always believed that both of their voices were baritone. But there are Franco fans that say that Franco was actually Tenor. Now I think of it, they may be right. I guess is that Franco never sang tenor very often. It was actually kind of rare. Usually Franco sang baritone most of the time. When Franco harmonized with Kwamy, Ntesa, Madilu, Malage, Djo Mpoyi, Vicky Longomba, Michel Boyibanda, Lola Checain, and Youlou Mabiala, Franco usually sang baritone. 

Franco and Pepe Kalle would be opposites attract. Franco's voice tends to be more wild and expressive while Pepe Kalle's voice tends to be more smooth and outgoing. Hence, this is why these men should have sung together. Both are emotional men which makes their duet more solid. Both are excellent storytellers and know to capture people's attention in general. In some songs, Franco can do more speaking while Pepe Kalle does his singing in the storytelling that they would do. In majority of the songs, we would hear harmonies between Franco and Pepe Kalle. 

Since I believe Franco and Pepe Kalle should have done an album together. Who would be the musicians that would have assisted them in the great project.

Drums: Seskain Molenga 

Guitar Bass: Flavien Makabi, Mpudi Decca and MP Cherie 

Guitar Rhythm: Elvis Kunku, Lutumba Simaro, Maika Munan and Ya Makosso 

Guitar Misolo: Franco and Papa Noel  

Guitar Acoustic: Doris Ebuya, Gerry Dialungana and Lutumba Simaro

Guitar Solo: Diblo Dibala, Kinanga Boeing 737 and Michelino

Vocal Assistants: Djo Mpoyi, Ntesa, Papa Wemba, Soki Vangu, Kiese Diambu, Josky Kiambukuta, Nzaya Nzayadio, Likinga Redo and Nyoka Longo  

It would have been like Franco and Tabu Ley's Lisanga ya Banganga but with a combination of OK Jazz, Bella Bella, Afrisa, Empire Bakuba and Zaiko together. 

Here are the thirty six songs that I selected that would fit this large project. 

1) Salima by Michelino
Guitars: Michelino, Papa Noel, Gerry Dialungana, Elvis Kunku and Mp Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Djo Mpoyi, Josky Kiambukuta and Kiese Diambu 

2) Tres Impoli by Franco 
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Franco, Lutumba Simaro, Maika Munan and Mpudi Decca
Lead Vocal: Franco
Choirs: Ntesa, Pepe Kalle and Soki Vangu 

3) Tokoma Bacamrade by Franco 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Doris Ebuya, Ya Makosso and Mpudi Decca
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle
Choirs: Djo Mpoyi, Josky Kiambukuta and Nzaya Nzayadio 

4) Nazoki by Seskain Molenga
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie  
Lead Vocal: Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Franco, Nyoka Longo and Papa Wemba 

5) Nganda Ma Campagne by Lola Checain 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Lutumba Simaro, Maika Munan and Mpudi Decca
Choirs: Franco and Pepe Kalle 

6) Cedou by Lutumba Simaro 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Lutumba Simaro and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Josky Kiambukuta, Ntesa and Soki Vangu 

7) Peuch de Sol by Franco 
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Maika Munan and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Djo Mpoyi, Josky Kiambukuta and Nzaya Nzayadio

8) Bonne Annne by Pepe Kalle
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and Mp Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Likinga Redo, Ntesa and Nzaya Nzayadio

9) Mosala by Pepe Kalle 
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and Mp Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Likinga Redo, Nyoka Longo and Papa Wemba

10) Non by Franco
Guitars: Dibala Dibala, Papa Noel, Gerry Dialungana, Lutumba Simaro and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 

11) Bitota by Doris Ebuya  
Guitars: Michelino, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Maika Munan and MP Cherie
Choir 1: Franco and Pepe Kalle
Choir 2: Likinga Redo and Soki Vangu 
Beginning Choir: Likinga Redo, Pepe Kalle and Soki Vangu

12) Yayongo by Pepe Kalle
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie
Vocals: Franco, Pepe Kalle

13) La Vie des Hommes by Franco
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Elvis Kunku and Mpudi Decca
Vocals: Franco, Pepe Kalle

14) Chacun Pour Soi by Josky Kiambukuta 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Doris Ebuya, Lutumba Simaro and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle
Choirs: Josky Kiambukuta, Kiese Diambu and Papa Wemba

15) Flora, Une Femme Difficile by Franco 
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Papa Noel, Gerry Dialungana, Ya Makosso and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle
Choirs: Likinga Redo, Papa Wemba and Soki Vangu

16) Lisanga ya Banganga by Tabu Ley
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Djo Mpoyi, Kiese Diambu and Nzaya Nzayadio 

17) Nalingaka Yo Yo Te by Franco 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Maika Munan and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocal: Franco 
Choirs: Franco and Pepe Kalle 

18) Frien a Main by Franco 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Ya Makosso and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocal: Franco 
Beginning Choir: Franco, Ntesa and Pepe Kalle
Regular Choir: Josky Kiambukuta, Ntesa and Pepe Kalle 

19) Nzoto ya Chance by Pepe Kalle 
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocal: Pepe Kalle
Choirs: Franco, Nzaya Nzayadio and Papa Wemba 

20) Mace by Lutumba Simaro 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Lutumba Simaro, Ya Makosso and Mpudi Decca 
Beginning Choir: Franco, Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle 
Choir 1: Franco and Likinga Redo
Choir 2: Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle 

21) Diarrhée Verbale by Lutumba Simaro 
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Maika Munan and Mp Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco, Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Kiese Diambu, Likinga Redo and Nzaya Nzayadio 

22) Azda by Franco 
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Franco, Doris Ebuya, Lutumba Simaro and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocal: Franco 
Beginning Choir: Franco, Nyoka Longo and Pepe Kalle 
Regular Choir: Ntesa, Nyoka Longo and Pepe Kalle 

23) Kinzonzi ki tata Mbemba by Franco 
Guitars: Michelino, Papa Noel, Lutumba Simaro, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocal: Franco 
Choirs: Ntesa, Nzaya Nzayadio and Pepe Kalle

24) Muana Oyo by Franco
Guitars: Michelino, Papa Noel, Lutumba Simaro, Ya Makosso and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocal: Franco 
Choirs: Franco and Pepe Kalle

25) Zouke Zouke by Pepe Kalle
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and Mpudi Decca 
Vocals: Franco, Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle

26) Calavaire by Pepe Kalle 
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Franco, Doris Ebuya, Ya Makosso and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocal: Pepe Kalle
Beginning Choir: Franco, Likinga Redo and Pepe Kalle
Regular Choir: Franco, Likinga Redo and Nyoka Longo

27) O Nager by Pepe Kalle 
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Ya Makosso and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Djo Mpoyi, Kiese Diambu and Soki Vangu 

28) Mujinga by Franco 
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Ya Makosso and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocal: Franco
Choirs: Josky Kiambukuta, Ntesa Dalienst and Pepe Kalle 

29) Laisser Passer by Matalanza 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Maika Munan and Mp Cherie 
Lead Vocals: Franco and Pepe Kalle 
Choirs: Josky Kiambukuta, Ntesa Dalienst and Papa Wemba 

30) Kevalina by JP Buse
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocals and Beginning Choirs: Franco and Pepe Kalle
Choirs: Likinga Redo, Nzaya Nzayadio and Nyoka Longo 

31) Ben Betito by Belobi Meridjo 
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Papa Noel, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie 
Lead Vocal: Franco 
Choirs: Nyoka Longo, Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle 

32) Elidjo Motema by Diblo Dibala   
Guitars: Diblo Dibala, Papa Noel, Lutumba Simaro, Maika Munan and Mpudi Decca 
Lead Vocal: Pepe Kalle
Beginning Choir: Franco, Pepe Kalle and Soki Vangu 
Choirs: Franco, Nzaya Nzayadio and Soki Vangu 

33) Fifi Innocent by Lutumba Simaro
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Franco, Lutumba Simaro, Maika Munan and MP Cherie 
Vocals: Franco, Pepe Kalle 

34) Mahele by Lutumba Simaro
Guitars: Kinanga Boeing 737, Franco, Lutumba Simaro, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie
Choir One: Franco and Pepe Kalle
Choir Two: Kiese Diambu, Likinga Redo and Nyoka Longo 

35) Lettre 3 by Franco
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Gerry Dialungana, Ya Makosso and Mp Cherie 
Lead Vocals and Beginning Choirs: Franco and Pepe Kalle
Choirs: Djo Mpoyi, Josky Kiambukuta and Ntesa

36) Moleka by Wuta Mayi 
Guitars: Michelino, Franco, Doris Ebuya, Maika Munan and Mpudi Decca 
Beginning Choir: Franco, Nzaya Nzayadio, Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle 
Choir 1: Nzaya Nzayadio and Papa Wemba 
Choir 2: Franco and Pepe Kalle 

These songs would be the best choices for proposals for a Franco and Pepe Kalle project together. Some will be duets and others will be with other artists that I proposed. Franco would get to redo chemistry with Michelino and make new ones with an individual like Diblo Dibala. I add acoustic guitar because I think it can make the song a little more flexible for fans who love acoustic guitars too.  The reason that these songs would fit is because Franco and Pepe Kalle know how to gather great talents for great work. One of the songs I proposed would be the song Nganda Ma Campagne that was made by singer Lola Checain. Part of the reason I selected this song is that Franco and Pepe Kalle have a lot of Swahili fans. Franco owns Kenya while Pepe Kalle owns Tanzania. 

Nalingaka Yo Yo te is another song that would have been very good with a Pepe Kalle voice. Pepe Kalle would have been able to add his smoothness the harmony with Franco. Also Franco would be more focused on his solo vocals on his heartbreaking story. Pepe Kalle is good at singing about heartbreak. 

La Vie des Hommes would be where Franco and Pepe Kalle would have been at its greatest. The harmony between these two men would have been better done than the harmony Franco had with Madilu. Madilu did a great job singing in this classic song and I command for his contribution. However I think the song would have more stronger if Pepe Kalle had sung it. Pepe Kalle would be able to give more heartbreak that Franco probably wanted in this song. Listen to Divise Par Deux as example where Pepe shows his heartbreak. It was perfectly done. 

Seskain Molenga would be the perfect drummer because he played exactly in styles of Franco and Pepe Kalle. He had diversity in his drumming skills. He even worked with Bob Marley. Franco and Pepe Kalle would have appreciated the services of this man. 

Maika Munan is necessary to add because he is from the Afrisa school who would have been perfect to play alongside Franco and Pepe Kalle. He is a legendary music engineer. Kinanga Boeing 737, Doris Ebuya, Elvis Kunku and MP Cherie are great talents and they were the forces behind Pepe Kalle's great music and since Franco really loved Empire Bakuba more than Zaiko, it makes sense to get these men to work with him as well as their great boss Pepe Kalle with Kinanga have a wild personality which Franco enjoyed. Diblo Dibala worked with Franco and Pepe Kalle. Diblo began with Franco for a short time doing the song Elidjo Motema and Diblo worked with Pepe Kalle on songs like Pon Moun Paka Bouge. Mpudi Decca was a Franco musician and played well in Franco songs and I think he would have a good time with addition of Pepe Kalle alongside with Franco. Papa Noel is a perfect Dr Nico copycat able play rumba and sevens very well. Gerry is a solid Lead guitarist who would play very well with acoustic. Ya Makosso is born to play sebenes with force under his guitar. Lutumba Simaro would be good with either rhythm or acoustic guitar because he has strong hands on that guitar. Michelino and Franco would have a great chance of working together with a third different individual. Also Franco and Michelino had strong chemistry as guitarists together. 

Djo Mpoyi, Ntesa, Papa Wemba, Soki Vangu, Kiese Diambu, Josky Kiambukuta, Nzaya Nzayadio, Likinga Redo and Nyoka Longo would be good assistants as vocalists for the songs I selected. Likinga, Wemba and Longo represent the Zaiko age which many people love to listen vocally speaking. Soki Vangu is a Bella Bella who has a similar voice to Madilu as well as Pepe Kalle. Djo Mpoyi, Josky Kiambukuta and Ntesa Dalienst are made from Africa Fiesta School as Kiesse Diambu who was a member of Tabu Ley's Afrisa International. Nzaya Nzayadio is a Pepe Kalle prototype who replaced him in Lipua Lipua.  

This would have been a great project if it had happened. Franco and Pepe Kalle are legends in their perspective generations. They would have been perfect as a duo as well as great with other musicians and singers. 

I gave a long list songs and musicians for this great project. 

Franco would have been a great musical partner to Pepe Kalle.  For the next Franco posts, I will mention two people from Clan Langa Langa that would have been with Grand Maitre. 

Next posts will be with Tabu Ley. Two posts dedicated to him.