Preston Epps Surfin' Bongos

American percussionist Preston Epps mastered the bongos while stationed in Okinawa during the Korean War. Upon his return from duty he settled in Southern California and began to play the local coffee house circuit. Art Laboe, a local disc jockey, signed Epps to a recording contract and released a single, "Bongo Rock," in 1959 which became a surprise hit in the U.S., reaching # 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Epps released a follow up single, "Bongo Bongo Bongo," which charted the following year. In 1960, Epps released a full length LP which rose to # 35 on the Billboard chart. Art Laboe contacted musician Paul Buff about recording some surf tracks with bongos in the spring of 1963. Buff got together with guitarist Dave Aerni and became The Bongo Teens. Along with Preston Epps, The Bongo Teens recorded the first full-length bongo surf album later that year. The resulting album, "Surfin' Bongos," remains a cult favorite almost 50 years later. All selections newly remastered.