PALM WINE GUITAR MUSIC

after listening to the mississippi records "love is love" and "lipa kodi ya city council" comps a lot lately, i became intrigued by this character S.E. Rogie. singing in english amidst a comp of all african vocals, he already stands out a bit, but listening further solidifies his status near the top of the best from these records. jangling in on a gliding wave of tinny tropical guitar, his in all manners jolly voice and infectious rhythm immediately set your foot tapping along and your hand fetching a refreshing adult beverage. i think if i was a lady in his time this guy's heyday i would have the fattest teenybopper crush on him; i bet he got all kinds of attention from the females. my friend kris claims that the african palm wine is actually quite atrocious tasting, but i would sit down in the shade, sip some palm potables, and fan off with this record on any sunny day. music for seriously chillin', rollin' spliff after spliff of dirt weed and sippin' all your cares away. summer's already here in my room!

from wikipedia:
"S. E. Rogie (born Sooliman Rogers) was a highlife and palm wine guitarist and singer from Sierra Leone. He was born in the 1940s and began performing early, while supporting himself as a tailor. In the 1960s, he became a professional musician, singing in four languages. His hits include "Koneh Pehlawo", "Go Easy with Me" and "My Lovely Elizabeth". He formed a band called The Morningstars in 1965, then travelled in Liberia and the United States. In the US, he performed at elementary and high schools across California, and received awards from the US Congress and Senate, the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, California.
He moved to England in 1988. He died in 1994 shortly after recording his last album, Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana."

YES, HIS LAST ALBUM IS CALLED DEAD MEN DON'T SMOKE MARIJUANA. i can't imagine how well that would go over at an elementary school. maybe here in oakland though?


here's a collection of classic tracks of Rogie's from the 60's, entitled "PALM WINE GUITAR MUSIC: THE 60'S SOUND". be prepared to be totally chilled out.



HERE