SONG OF THE DAY Bob Destiny – Wang Dang

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Bob Destiny (born Ralph Philip Brown in1933 in San Juan Puerto Rico) was a songwriter, singer and musician.  A child star, at the age of six he was tap dancing in a group called “The Five Chocolate Drops” and rose to fame for his participation in a film with Shirley Temple!

At about the same time Destiny found a strong passion for music and learnt to play the piano. He later worked in piano bars in New York and trained in theatre and dance.  At the time racial discrimination prevented him from proceeding forward in theatre, but a break led him to an encounter with Billie Holiday, from which he accompanied her on piano! Throughout the 50’s and 60’s he played, sang and danced in various Broadway shows, as well as appearing in several Hollywood films, but it was in 1956 that he recorded his first album as a singer! Destiny really was the perfect name for this artist!

In 1969 he left the US to teach music in Algeria at the Algerian National Theatre and in 1970 he released a couple of 45s, including today’s song Wang Dang and Mahna (Troubles); both were issued on the Freedom Musique label.  This raw, wild soul-funk track was recorded and released only in Algeria and has been compared to the likes of James Brown and The Sonics!  These 45s are very rare and were first discovered by the great Habibi Funk label a few years ago, who included Wang Dang on one of their compilations.

Wang Dang is an insane romp, sure to fire you up!! Check it out above.