Courtesy of http://www.ClubFreestyle.com

In the mid 1980's, long before music fans had ever heard the names Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, Latin pop music pioneers Tony, Kayel and Angel better known as TKA, were creating a Latin music explosion all their own.   TKA, creators of the Latin Hip-Hop movement later renamed Freestyle, are set to reclaim their place in music history with a new album and tour.

TKA's reunion tour and greatest hits album connects relentless energy with massive hits.  Their just released  hits album TKA- The Best of Everything, delivers all their Latin Hip-Hop classics including 2 dance hits recorded by K7 (Kayel) as a solo artist.  The original version of their greatest hits album is already Gold and this new version will continue to introduce the boys from Spanish Harlem to a new legion of fans.  From their debut smash single "One Way Love" in 1985 to their Top 40 smashes "Louder Than Love" and "Maria" in 1992, the album not only delivers classic after classic, but serves as an invaluable primer for any student of a vital era in latin and pop music history.  The album also contains 2 new songs.  With their new single "When Will I See You Again", TKA infuses their magic once again, giving their fans a small taste of what's in store for their first studio album in over 8 years.  The album slated for November release reunites TKA with their longtime producer, Joey Gardner among others. 

TKA were discovered by Gardner in 1984 when Kayel invited him to a sweet 16 party in the basement of a church in East Harlem.  As a favor to the birthday girl, the guys sang love songs Kayel had written over instrumental tracks of the latest rap records.  Within seconds Gardner understood that he was watching the beginnings of something special.  The "Planet Rock" inspired electro movement was in full swing in NYC and beginning to sweep Europe and Asia.  Gardner, a frequent patron of clubs like the Funhouse and the Roxy in NYC couldn't help but notice the disparity between the amount of Latinos, specifically Puerto Ricans who packed the clubs and the number of Latinos involved in the making of the music.  "I kept thinking how great it would be if those teens could see themselves up on that stage", Gardner recalls.  "I always wanted to find the right group to make it happen.  There was no doubt in my mind that night of the Sweet 16 that these guys were it".  He immediately signed them to Tommy Boy Records where he worked as an A&R exec.  Taking the same concept that had caught his ears at the party, he transferred it to the studio.  The result was Scars Of Love, TKA's debut album which spawned 6 Billboard Top Dance Hits and several pop hits.  The success of the album spurred a mini Latin pop explosion as groups like Expose, The Cover Girls and Lisa Lisa stormed the pop charts.  By the release of their second album Louder Than Love, TKA was traveling the world opening for groups like Boys II Men, Donna Summer and Paula Abdul . 

By the late eighties major labels were signing all the Latin Freestyle artists to capitalize on the emerging scene.  To compete with artists like New Kids On The Block, Debbie Gibson and Jody Watley who had co-opted the sound, Freestyle artists were directed by the labels to make their records more accessible to the mainstream and suggested distancing themselves from the term "Latin Hip-Hop".  The result was a dilution of the sound and the genre's name change to Freestyle.  TKA was no exception.  After being forced to release two failed pop singles through a joint venture between Tommy Boy and Warner Bros., the guys took matters into their own hands.  Much to the opposition of their label, they released the track "Louder Than Love" on their own.  The song returned TKA to their roots and the top of the charts.

When it came time to record their third album in 1992 , TKA, still under pressure by their label to go pop, chose to split up rather than record an album they would ultimately be unhappy with.  As a farewell to their fans, TKA recorded one last song together.  Their swan song "Maria" ironically became their most successful record to date.  Soon after the split, Tony created a successful artist management and production company.  Angel joined the R&B group Goodfellas and recorded an album that spawned a pair of Billboard charted singles.  Kayel once again paired with Joey Gardner to record a solo album titled Swing Batta Swing under the name K7.  The Gold album spawned 3 huge international hits including the multi-million seller "Come Baby Come".

Now with all the members united and certainly wiser, the guys are taking control again.  "We know what we did was special", Kayel says.  "We were years ahead of our time.  Some people in the industry would like to forget what we and the other pioneers of Latin Hip-Hop created and the doors we kicked open for Latinos.  But the fans never forgot.  That's why we're doing this again- for our fans." 

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