About Oopapada
Musically speaking, the group's
overview encompasses many styles including: Blues, Jazz, Salsa,
Rock, Funk, etc... However, King's personal description for the
music the group plays is called Rutude Music. This is a
combination of two words--roots and attitude, which means to
perform a variety of music in a person's global heritage while including other cultural influences.
Oopapada currently has several CD's in circulation. They are available through Uuquipleu Records ( pronounced yoo-kee-ploo). An additional releases
features the James Carter Organ Trio under King's auspices
titled "Extending the Language", The Lyman Woodard Organization
"Live at J.J.'s Lounge-1974", The Lyman Woodard Trio "74/93
Live--At Last!!", Dr. Prof. Leonard King & Gerard Gibbs "More
Extensions" and Oopapada "Studio Live and Such" .
CD'S ARE DISTRIBUTED BY CD BABY at www.cdbaby.com
You can contact Leonard King for bookings at P.O. Box 18096,
Minneapolis, MN 55418, by phone (313) 729-6919 & (612) 781-5156 or by E-Mail
MP3's can be purchased here from CD Baby. Click on the links
below:
DR. PROF. LEONARD KING: Extending the Language
http://cdbaby.com/cd/leonardking
OOPAPADA featuring Dr. Prof. Leonard King: Non Yawn Varieties
http://cdbaby.com/cd/oopapada1
OOPAPADA feat. Dr. Prof. Leonard King: We're Household Names
Today, Baby
http://cdbaby.com/cd/oopapada2
OOPAPADA feat. Dr. Prof. Leonard King: Zug Island Style
http://cdbaby.com/cd/oopapada3
OOPAPADA feat. Dr. Prof. Leonard King: Big Fahrenheit In Detroit
(double CD)
http://cdbaby.com/cd/oopapada4
Uuquipleu Records was formed in the
year 2000 as a result of a 3-year period of time in which Robert
Tye, Christian (Chris) Codish, & Leonard King recorded
intermittently at Roscoe's Recording Studio in Detroit. The
group's name, Oopapada, was adopted soon after its formation in
March 1995. The band rehearsed practically every week, two days
a week (sometimes three) which resulted in a large pool of
compositions--original and otherwise--in need of public
exposure. Robert and Chris both mentioned the need to document
all of the original material that had been accumulating up to
that particular time period--1999. Additionally Leonard was
working with Wendell Harrison & Pamela Wise in both of their
respective groups and other engagements when both were present.
It was Wendell who used to subtlety nudge Leonard in saying
"Man, you've got all of that material. You better put a CD out".
Very often Pamela would remind him as well. Therefore when
Robert and Chris expressed the same idea, shortly afterwards, it
was time to put all of the pieces together.
The initial two sessions were scheduled
for January 15 & 16, 1996. Two days before before the first
session Chris called Leonard to say that he couldn't be there because of a previous commitment with
guitarist/vocalist Johnnie Bassett. Therefore it was decided to
record the first session with just Leonard singing and Robert
playing acoustic guitar. This "fortunate accident" (as Leonard
calls it) resulted in an additional variety which would not have
happened otherwise. Check out the entire Uuquipleu Records
catalog which will continue to grow with new releases yearly!!
