The Incredible Bongo Band

Cult Funk and Breakbeat Pioneers

The Incredible Bongo Band, also known as Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band, was a project started by Michael Viner, an executive at the MGM record label, in the early 1970s. The band's creation was somewhat accidental, originating from a desire to capitalize on a studio session originally intended for a film soundtrack that never materialized. Their first album, "Bongo Rock," released in 1973, is widely regarded as a significant influence on the development of hip-hop music because of its breakbeat-heavy tracks. The most famous track from this album, "Apache," has been extensively sampled and is considered one of the most iconic breakbeats in hip-hop culture. The band released a follow-up album titled "The Return Of The Incredible Bongo Band" in 1974. Despite their relatively short-lived career and limited discography during that era, their work has had a lasting impact on later music genres and has been rediscovered by new generations of DJs and music enthusiasts.