Ray Lugo (Kokolo/Boogaloo Destroyers)

Ray Lugo is a songwriter, producer and DJ from New York City and is the leader and singer of Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra and Ray Lugo & The Boogaloo Destroyers. Lugo grew up on the streets of New York's Lower East Side, where he was exposed from an early age to the early Hip Hop and hardcore punk scenes that informed the strong DIY ethic for which he is known. As a teen he gravitated to the vibrant East Village music and art scene of the late 80's, eventually managing hardcore group Warzone while still in his teens under the mentorship of bands such as Bad Brains and Agnostic Front. In the mid-1990's Lugo opened Underhanded Studios on Ludlow Street in new York. Underhanded became the starting point for popular Latin Ska group King Chango, as Lugo produced and co-wrote a number of the group's initial recordings prior to their signing to David Byrne's Luaka Bop Records, and for the emerging deep funk scene, as the nascent Desco Records recorded their first releases at Underhanded, prior to mutating into Daptone Records. Lugo formed the Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra in 2001 after becoming intrigued by the music of Fela Kuti and by groups like Daktaris and Antibalas, groups comprised of ex-King Chango members and Desco records associates. In October 2009, Lugo launched a new project dubbed Ray Lugo's L.E.S. Express which features some of Brazil's newest vocal talents as well as Australian deep funk singer Roxie Ray. In June 2011, Lugo released the debut album, "Mi Watusi", from his new project, Ray Lugo & The Boogaloo Destroyers, on acclaimed UK label Freestyle Records. "We Walk Around Like This", Lugo's first solo album is out now on Jazz & Milk Records. For more info visit: raylugo.org