Kokomo

Brit Soul-Funk legends Kokomo came together as musicians from previous groups Arrival and the Grease Band in 1973. • Lead singer and keyboardist Tony O’Malley had been in the Mick Cox Band for one album immediately post Arrival. There he was joined on backing vocals by Paddie McHugh, Frank Collins and Dyan Birch who by then were doing sessions together. Tony and drummer Terry Stannard started an open invitation session at The Pheasantry, Kings Road, London. A regular troupe began to perform consisting of the aforementioned musicians and singers plus Alan Spenner, Neil Hubbard and Jim Mullen, late of Joe Cocker’s Grease Band. Named after an Aretha Franklin song, ‘First Snow In Kokomo’, the band Kokomo were born. • “To Be Cool” documents this period between late 1973 and 1974 when the band would perform regular sets of contemporary soul around London.