| What they’re saying about SAMBA BAMBA! “The world’s first high energy, wacky, Latin rhythm-based, television sitcom soundtrack, dance band” The Chicago Reader “This band oozes sex and love from every pore. They rock my world! I love them!” Ted Allen, Queer Eye for The Straight Guy “Whatever it is . . . it’s contagious!” Kathy O’Malley, Chicago Tribune “Their spice is nice, so, now . . . I’m a Bamba, wouldn’t ya like to be a Bamba too!” Dave Hoekstra, Chicago Sun-Times "Wild and Wacky!" 'Scene in Chicago', Chicago Social Magazine |
| Lindo McCartney, Lupe Lowenstein, Monty "Sugar Loaf" Mattachine, Samba Bamba's front line |
| Run for the maracas, get out the cocktail shaker and prepare to be “samba-sized.” Samba Bamba! is the wacky, “Sergio Mendes meets the B-52’s” 8-piece Latin-flavored, martini swilling, retro crazy band. Samba Bamba! was formed in 1994 by Richard Knight, Jr. as an homage to the music of Sergio Mendes & Brazil ‘66. Knight, a comedic performer, known to audiences for his work with the Annoyance Theater and TV’s “Wild Chicago” as his Dick O’Day persona, envisioned a character-driven band supported by top musicians. Monty “Sugarloaf” Mattachine (portrayed by Knight), Lupe Lowenstein (portrayed by Jenniphre Zias) and Lindo McCartney (portrayed by Victor Salvo) front the five supporting musicians, Scott Stevenson (keyboards), Steve Dollinger (guitar), Randy Henry (bass), Alejo Poveda (percussion), and Gerald Dowd (drums). Onstage, Monty, Lupe and Lindo lead the band in their colorful, unique interpretations of whatever happens to strike their fancy – or whatever their audiences are clamoring for. “Lust for Samba,” their critically acclaimed CD, was released in 1997. Booking information: email me |
| Here's a preview of the forthcoming Samba Bamba Magical Memories Pages: |
| Lupe and Monty onstage at Ave in 1997 -- part of a Chicago Social magazine spread on the band. |
| Lindo and Monty at Vinyl in 1995. Monty in one of his typical fabulous outfits. The original Rhumba invite -- our last weekly gig which we dubbed "Super-Salsa- Fabulistic-Samba-Ba mba- Rhumba!" It was all that and more! |