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Kokomo is a four-piece New Zealand band, based in the sunny east coast metropolis of Tauranga. They play music that is primarily acoustic, and primarily blues-based. They have released 6 albums - 2 of traditional blues, 4 of primarily original songs.
The official story has the band springing from a performance at the Tauranga National Jazz Festival in 1991. They played 'Dust My Broom' and 'No Way To Get Along' together, and were received enthusiastically.
They have toured relentlessly, playing everywhere from the Kaponga Backgammon Club and Great Barrier Island to Auckland's Aotea Centre and a pile of festivals.
In 1992 they made our first album, 'The Old Original Kokomo Blues'.
Their second album was 'When In Rome Do Rome' and their third album 'To Be Or What' was a return to blues, including a couple of instruments which gave them the chance to stretch out a bit musically.
They have toured with a number of other people, most frequently Wellington singer, Marg Layton , under The Downhome Blues Revue. There have also been several radio programs made about their music and the odd TV appearance. Their music has also been used on various soundtracks, from soap operas to gardening shows and surfing videos.
Roger retired from the band at the end of 1998, so he could spend more time with his growing family, (he is now carving out a name for himself as one of New Zealand's finest sculptors) and as a mark of respect for seven years together they changed the band name to just Kokomo.
Luckily, Nigel Masters, an old friend of the band was between bands and came on board to play bass. They went back to his studio to record 'Little Heroes', which was released in July 1999.
At this time Wellington trumpeter, Sonia Trappitt, who had been playing with the band live on and off for a number of years, moved to Tauranga to live with Grant. She recorded her first songs with Kokomo on 'Little Heroes' and officially joined the band in 2000.
2001 was their 10th anniversary, which was marked by releasing a limited edition CD, 'Blues And Beyond', featuring a few new recordings and a selection of unreleased stuff and remixes from the vaults.
Band Members:
Nigel Masters
Derek Jacombs
Grant Bullot
Sonia Trappitt
Artist Website
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