Rokotto
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Dundee , Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
Rokotto was a Britfunk ensemble based in Dundee, Scotland, active during the late 1970s. The group included vocalists Sister B (Lorna Bannon), Hugh Paul, and Cleveland Walker, with instrumental support from guitarist Derek Henderson, bassist Lloyd Wisdom, keyboardist Stewart Garden, and drummer Bongo Macleod.
Overview
Established in September 1975, Rokotto came into existence when Caribbean musicians McLeod, Walker, and Wisdom arrived in Dundee with a steel drum ensemble and integrated into the local funk community. The term Rokotto translates to "making love" in an African language. The band earned a residency at Ronnie Scott's club in London and signed a contract with State Records in August 1976.
Their television debut was a 30-minute live performance on ITV's The Entertainers in April 1977. Rokotto secured two UK top 40 singles: "Boogie On Up" reached No. 40 in November 1977, and "Funk Theory" peaked at No. 49 in June 1978; both tracks were showcased on Top of the Pops. Their last singles were issued in 1981.
Following Rokotto’s disbandment, McLeod and Walker formed the funk group McLeod. Sister B, under her real name Lorna B, shifted to providing backing vocals and recording TV theme songs such as for the children's program Fun House, collaborated with Shakatak on the Night Birds album, and achieved top 40 chart success in 1995 alongside DJ Scott.