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Preston Epps (Mangum, Oklahoma, U.S., July 19, 1930 - May 9, 2019) was an American percussionist.
Epps learned to play percussion instruments, including the bongos, while he was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean War. After his tour of duty he settled in Southern California, playing in coffee shops and working odd jobs. Arthur Laboe, a local disc jockey, signed him to Original Sound Records, which released his single "Bongo Rock" in 1959. The tune became a hit in the U.S., reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. The follow-up, "Bongo Bongo Bongo", reached #78 the following year. Original Sound released a full-length LP in 1960, which reached #35 on the Billboard 200. However, further bongo-themed singles, including "Bongo in the Congo", "Bongo Rocket", "Bootlace Bongo", "Bongo Boogie", "Flamenco Bongo", "Mr. Bongo", and "Bongo Shuffle", did not result in any further success.
Epps reappeared in 1969 as a bongo player in the film Girl in Gold Boots. He continued on as a session musician in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, the Incredible Bongo Band recorded "Bongo Rock" and released it as a single.
Epps continued playing in clubs in Southern California into the 1990s.
Preston Epps died in May 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Discography with Billboard chart peak positions
Singles Bongo Rock (#14)/Bongo Party—Original Sound 4 -- 1959 Bongo Bongo Bongo (#78)/Hully Gully Bongo—Original Sound 9 -- 1960 Bongo Shuffle/Bongo In The Congo—Original Sound 14—1960 Blue Bongo/Bongola—Top Rank 2067—1960 Bongo Hop/Caravan—Top Rank 2091—1960 Bongo Boogie/Flamenco Bongo—Majesty 1300—1960 Bongo Rocket/Jungle Drums—Original Sound 17—1961 Rockin' In The Congo/Sing Donna Go—Embassy 203—1961 Mister Bongos/B'wana Bongos—Donna 1367—1962 Bongo Express/Flamenco Bongo—Admiral 901—1963 Bongo Rock '65/Bongo Waltz—Polo 218—1965 Afro Mania/Love Is The Only Good Thing—Jo Jo 106—1969
Albums Bongo Bongo Bongo (#35) -- Original Sound LPM-5002 (Mono)/LPS-8851 (Stereo) -- 1960 Bongola—Top Rank RM-349 (Mono)/RS-349 (Stereo) -- 1961 Surfin' Bongos—Original Sound LPM-5009/LPS-8872—1963
Preston Epps (Mangum, Oklahoma, U.S., July 19, 1930 - May 9, 2019) was an American percussionist.
Epps learned to play percussion instruments, including the bongos, while he was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean War. After his tour of duty he settled in Southern California, playing in coffee shops and working odd jobs. Arthur Laboe, a local disc jockey, signed him to Original Sound Records, which released his single "Bongo Rock" in 1959. The tune became a hit in the U.S., reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. The follow-up, "Bongo Bongo Bongo", reached #78 the following year. Original Sound released a full-length LP in 1960, which reached #35 on the Billboard 200. However, further bongo-themed singles, including "Bongo in the Congo", "Bongo Rocket", "Bootlace Bongo", "Bongo Boogie", "Flamenco Bongo", "Mr. Bongo", and "Bongo Shuffle", did not result in any further success.
Epps reappeared in 1969 as a bongo player in the film Girl in Gold Boots. He continued on as a session musician in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, the Incredible Bongo Band recorded "Bongo Rock" and released it as a single.
Epps continued playing in clubs in Southern California into the 1990s.
Preston Epps died in May 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Discography with Billboard chart peak positions
Singles Bongo Rock (#14)/Bongo Party—Original Sound 4 -- 1959 Bongo Bongo Bongo (#78)/Hully Gully Bongo—Original Sound 9 -- 1960 Bongo Shuffle/Bongo In The Congo—Original Sound 14—1960 Blue Bongo/Bongola—Top Rank 2067—1960 Bongo Hop/Caravan—Top Rank 2091—1960 Bongo Boogie/Flamenco Bongo—Majesty 1300—1960 Bongo Rocket/Jungle Drums—Original Sound 17—1961 Rockin' In The Congo/Sing Donna Go—Embassy 203—1961 Mister Bongos/B'wana Bongos—Donna 1367—1962 Bongo Express/Flamenco Bongo—Admiral 901—1963 Bongo Rock '65/Bongo Waltz—Polo 218—1965 Afro Mania/Love Is The Only Good Thing—Jo Jo 106—1969
Albums Bongo Bongo Bongo (#35) -- Original Sound LPM-5002 (Mono)/LPS-8851 (Stereo) -- 1960 Bongola—Top Rank RM-349 (Mono)/RS-349 (Stereo) -- 1961 Surfin' Bongos—Original Sound LPM-5009/LPS-8872—1963
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