TBGB Pick of the Week: September 4, 2005

“Yes I Will”
Bingo Kenoly
NGMR Records 2005
Distributed by Taseis Media Group

The son of singer Ron Kenoly and a member of the Kenoly Brothers, the 28 year-old Bingo Kenoly is giving it a try as a solo artist with his debut CD, My Pleasure.

While the title track, with its crisp beats, hip-hop infusion, and less-than-three-minutes length, is clearly the radio-friendly track, TBGB’s preference is the more laid-back “Yes I Will”. Reminiscent of 1970s Stevie Wonder, this song, co-written by Kenoly, has a slow, easy groove that suits Kenoly’s vocals perfectly and demonstrates his wide variety of musical influences.

Named Bingo at birth, Kenoly was born on January 18, 1977 in Oakland, CA. His African-American father, Ron Kenoly, was an R&B singer under the name of Ron Keith. His Puerto Rican mother, Tavita, was a housewife. Later, his father turned to church music and became a gold-selling praise and worship artist. Before his dad’s success, there were many lean times. “Those times taught us to be strong and not to depend on anybody to get the things we wanted to get in life,” Bingo says.

With his brother, Sam, Bingo cut three, independent, best-selling CDs that fused smooth neo soul rhythms with classic gospel harmonies. Among the Kenoly Brothers’ best-loved radio hits are, “Why I Love You (You Are My Joy)”, “Praise Him”, “Because of Who You Are”, and the scintilating “Too Close.”

If other tracks on Bingo’s debut are as delicious as those I’ve heard, I’d say he has a great solo career in his future.