Chakachas
This Belgian septet were led by Gaston Boogaerts (bass guitar) with a flux of personnel usually including a female singer, horns and Latin percussion. Launched by a European smash hit with "Eso Es El Amor" in 1958, a consequent crowded booking schedule guaranteed a steady growth of popularity throughout the continent - even in the UK where their opportunist "Twist Twist" sneaked into the Top 50 in 1962. Five years later, constant touring took its toll, causing Boogaerts to resume his former occupation as a painter. Nevertheless, he continued to supervise the group's record dates. During 1970 sessions for an album, he earmarked "Jungle Fever" (composed by William Albimoor) as a potential hit single. This judgement proved correct when, featuring vocalist Kary and saxophonist Victor Ingeveld, it took most European markets by storm and even reached number 8 in the USA. The true benefit of this episode, however, was the broadening of the outfit's work spectrum, especially into the lucrative US supper clubs, and they received invitations to perform on television for the first time in years.
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