It all came about through a
series of incredibly lucky coincidences. Or were they more than just lucky?
Around June of 2002 Tony Allen, OKOLONA’s
rhythm guitarist, happened to make the acquaintance of Linda Malone, a
co-worker whom he’d previously seen but never met. After she returned from
a vacation in the Bahamas, Tony asked Linda out for lunch to talk about
her trip and see the pictures, as he was planning a similar trip himself.
The course of their conversation that day turned up an important mutual
interest in music. Linda revealed that she’d sung in various jazz groups;
Tony, that he’d been with OKOLONA for many years as a singer, guitarist,
and songwriter.
Over the next month, Tony and Linda
had several casual conversations and a kind of friendship developed between
them.
Osama Kheir, OKOLONA's bass
player, newly wed, had been looking for a suitable and well-paying day
job. He eventually found a computer job in Michigan he couldn’t refuse
and so, this summer of 2002, had to leave both Atlanta and the OKOLONA
band. It was a heavy blow to OKOLONA, for it would be hard to find a good
replacement. As the search began for a new bass player, the remaining OKOLONA
members, Jimmy, Wayne, and Tony, tred water for a while and used the lull
to work on composing some new songs.
In the meantime, knowing of Tony’s musical
interests, another friend and co-worker of Tony’s happened to lend Tony
a CD by Tuck and Patti. One of the songs that Tony particularly liked
was an old tune called “You Take My Breath Away.” He wondered whether
Linda could sing this song and thought about recording it with her on his
digital recorder. Several days later he asked Linda whether she would
possibly be interested in recording a couple of songs. She was interested,
so after Linda had also listened to the CD they agreed to try to record
“You Take My Breath Away.”
On July 26, Tony and Linda met at her
home and laid the song down on digital tape. Tony was immediately blown
away by Linda’s incredibly beautiful voice, phrasing, and improvisation.
Also struck at how well the recording had turned out, Linda suggested that
maybe she and Okolona should jam together. When Tony arrived at OKOLONA
practice later that evening, so contagious was his enthusiasm over Linda’s
singing that they all decided to call her up for a jam session that very
evening. Though Linda couldn’t make it on such short notice, she promised
to come the following week.
When Tony dropped by Linda’s a couple
of days later to pick up his digital recorder, he discussed with her the
factors that would be involved in a possible long-term commitment to The
OKOLONA Band: the fact that OKOLONA is a country music band, the possible
need for her to play bass as well as sing, the requisite compatibility
with the general ethos, the sacrifices a band member must be prepared to
make. It likely wouldn’t be easy. Undaunted, Linda continued to express
interest in hearing and jamming with the group.
As OKOLONA practice neared the following
week, Linda casually asked Tony whether she might bring her sister Joy
along with her. Tony readily agreed. He assumed Linda wanted Joy with her
to feel more comfortable among strangers. Actually, Joy, a singer and guitarist
in her own right, fortunately happened to be free that night and interested
in OKOLONA as well from Linda’s description. And so on Friday, August 2,
2002, Linda and Joy followed Tony to the OKOLONA practice at Wayne’s. After
introductions, and as the band tuned up, Tony was pleasantly surprised
to learn that Joy herself played some guitar. As she knew that OKOLONA
now lacked a bass player, she picked up Richard’s (OKOLONA first long-term
bass player’s) old bass guitar and asked whether she might try to play
along.
What followed was extraordinary and
unforgettable session indeed. It was high energy and total harmony and
a journey to musical heights none of those present had ever before reached.
By the end it was clear that here was a marriage made in heaven. OKOLONA
had found the talents it had always sought; Linda and Joy had found in
OKOLONA the perfect venue from which wow future audiences with their awesome
singing and playing. There was no question in anyone’s mind that Linda
and Joy were now full-fledged members of the band, inducted as it were
by musical fiat.
Over the following months Wayne, Jimmy,
Tony, Linda, and Joy practiced a range of old and new songs until finally
ready for their debut in front of long-time friends and fans, who were
wildly enthusiastic over the new band members and OKOLONA sound.
Now the newly reborn OKOLONA is coming
to a honky-tonk and a CD player near you! Booking
info.
