TKA
Encyclopedia
TKA was a Latin Freestyle
trio that was prominent in the 1980s and early 1990s, mainly in New York City
and Miami, Florida
. Its members were Tony Ortiz, Louis "Kayel" Sharpe, and Alejandro "Aby" Escoto later replaced by Angel "Love" Vasquez. The acronym TKA represents their collective initials. Early on, the group's members would state in interviews that the acronym stood for "Total Knowledge in Action," as well. All of TKA's members are of Puerto Rican
descent. Many Freestyle fans consider them the kings of that genre, although Kayel downplays this label, having stated, "There are no kings in Freestyle. There is only one king in it - myself"
party in an East Harlem church in 1984. Record producer and manager Joey Gardner, who attended the party, was impressed with the trio, and, with his help, signed with Tommy Boy Records
. The group originally consisted of Tony, Kayel, and Alejandro " Aby" Escoto but Aby was replaced by Angel Vasquez after the release of the single "Tears May Fall." Although not widely known, India
was a member of the group in its earliest days, as well. The group’s first single was "One-Way Love", a major hit in the Latin club communities of New York and Miami, which was followed by "Come Get My Love
". An album was then recorded, titled Scars of Love, which included the first two singles. The title track was then released as a single, followed by "Tears May Fall," "X-Ray Vision," and "Don't be Afraid."
In 1989, the soundtrack of the film "Lean on Me" featured the single "You are the One," which hit #91 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
The album Louder Than Love was released in 1990, accompanied by its first single, "I Won't Give Up on You," a slick contemporary R&B groove that was quite a departure from their earlier material, stylistically. 1991 saw even more diversity of sound with the release of the singles "Crash (Have Some Fun)," a house-music
hit that featured a hip hop vocal by Michelle Visage
of the group Seduction; "Give Your Love to Me"; and "Louder Than Love."
That same year the trio also performed the song "Are You For Real
" on the popular syndicated television program It's Showtime at the Apollo.
As a result of Freestyle's waning popularity as a new age of music dawned, the trio stopped recording soon after the single "Louder Than Love" was released. A greatest-hits package was released in 1992, with a new track, "Maria," which was released as a single.
Following the split, the members of TKA went on to pursue independent interests. Kayel recorded under the name K7
and had a hit hip-hop album called Swing, Batta, Swing
, which contained the hit singles "Zunga Zeng" (which interpolated
and was loosely based on Reggae
legend Yellowman
's 1983 early Dancehall hit "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng"); "Come, Baby, Come
"; and the Cab Calloway
-influenced "Hi De Ho." Tony established a production company in New York, and Angel formed the contemporary R&B
group Goodfellaz.
The trio got back together in 2001 and recorded the album Forever, which was released by Tommy Boy shortly before that company ended its joint venture with Warner Bros. Records
.
TKA is still performing together, and the group is now managed by Victor Popovic.
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
trio that was prominent in the 1980s and early 1990s, mainly in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Its members were Tony Ortiz, Louis "Kayel" Sharpe, and Alejandro "Aby" Escoto later replaced by Angel "Love" Vasquez. The acronym TKA represents their collective initials. Early on, the group's members would state in interviews that the acronym stood for "Total Knowledge in Action," as well. All of TKA's members are of Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
descent. Many Freestyle fans consider them the kings of that genre, although Kayel downplays this label, having stated, "There are no kings in Freestyle. There is only one king in it - myself"
History
Hailing from New York City, TKA was discovered when it sang at a sweet sixteenSweet sixteen (birthday)
A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
party in an East Harlem church in 1984. Record producer and manager Joey Gardner, who attended the party, was impressed with the trio, and, with his help, signed with Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
. The group originally consisted of Tony, Kayel, and Alejandro " Aby" Escoto but Aby was replaced by Angel Vasquez after the release of the single "Tears May Fall." Although not widely known, India
La India
La India , known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" , is a singer of salsa. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.-Early years:...
was a member of the group in its earliest days, as well. The group’s first single was "One-Way Love", a major hit in the Latin club communities of New York and Miami, which was followed by "Come Get My Love
Come Get My Love
"Come Get My Love" is the second single from freestyle group TKA's debut album Scars of Love.-Track listing:US 12"/CD Single-Charts:...
". An album was then recorded, titled Scars of Love, which included the first two singles. The title track was then released as a single, followed by "Tears May Fall," "X-Ray Vision," and "Don't be Afraid."
In 1989, the soundtrack of the film "Lean on Me" featured the single "You are the One," which hit #91 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
The album Louder Than Love was released in 1990, accompanied by its first single, "I Won't Give Up on You," a slick contemporary R&B groove that was quite a departure from their earlier material, stylistically. 1991 saw even more diversity of sound with the release of the singles "Crash (Have Some Fun)," a house-music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
hit that featured a hip hop vocal by Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage is a singer and TV/radio host.-Career:Michelle was discovered in 1989 when she was asked to join Seduction, an R&B and dance vocal trio assembled by Robert Clivilles and David Cole of C&C Music Factory fame...
of the group Seduction; "Give Your Love to Me"; and "Louder Than Love."
That same year the trio also performed the song "Are You For Real
Are You For Real
"Are You For Real" is a hit song recorded by the Grammy Award-winning artist and producer Deodato for his 1984 album Motion and released by Warner Bros Records. The song, which featured vocals by Camille and was written by Rick Suchow, reached the Billboard Top 20 Dance Chart and stayed on for 12...
" on the popular syndicated television program It's Showtime at the Apollo.
As a result of Freestyle's waning popularity as a new age of music dawned, the trio stopped recording soon after the single "Louder Than Love" was released. A greatest-hits package was released in 1992, with a new track, "Maria," which was released as a single.
Following the split, the members of TKA went on to pursue independent interests. Kayel recorded under the name K7
K7 (musician)
Louis Sharpe better known by his stage names K7 and Kayel.He is the frontman of the Latin freestyle group TKA, is a pop-oriented hip-hop emcee from the U.S., signed to Tommy Boy Records....
and had a hit hip-hop album called Swing, Batta, Swing
Swing Batta Swing
Swing Batta Swing is the debut album by K7. It was released on November 9, 1993 for Tommy Boy Records and was produced by Frankie Cutlass, K7, Joey Gardner and Mike Lorello....
, which contained the hit singles "Zunga Zeng" (which interpolated
Interpolation (music)
Interpolation in music refers to an abrupt change in musical elements from the main theme.-In classical music:In music and musical composition, especially 20th century and later, interpolation is an abrupt change of elements, with continuation of the first idea...
and was loosely based on Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
legend Yellowman
Yellowman
Yellowman is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman...
's 1983 early Dancehall hit "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng"); "Come, Baby, Come
Come Baby Come
"Come Baby Come" is a song by rapper K7 of freestyle group TKA, from his debut album Swing Batta Swing. The song peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1993 and #3 in the UK charts in early 1994. It was produced by Joey Gardner for Tommy Boy Records, and featured a jazzy scat vocal by Camille...
"; and the Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
-influenced "Hi De Ho." Tony established a production company in New York, and Angel formed the contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
group Goodfellaz.
The trio got back together in 2001 and recorded the album Forever, which was released by Tommy Boy shortly before that company ended its joint venture with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
.
TKA is still performing together, and the group is now managed by Victor Popovic.
Discography
- Scars of Love (1987)
- Louder Than LoveLouder Than Love (TKA album)Louder Than Love is an album by Latin freestyle group TKA. It was released on August 15, 1990, by Tommy Boy Records.- Track listing :-Charts:Singles - Billboard...
(1990) - Forever (2001)