Franco: Dernier Concert - Final Performance, 22 Septembre 1989. Chacun Pour Soi.

On Friday, September 22nd, 1989, Franco gave his final performance in De Melkweg (The Milky Way) in Amsterdam. This will be twenty years ago next week.

As soon as he had entered the building, which was well before the audience was allowed in, it was clear that he was much sicker and weaker than the previous time he had performed there ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVQ4lz2irKo ) and our hopes of his recovery were smashed to smithereens.

Later that evening, the concert had been going on for what seemed like ages, an hour, maybe an hour and a half, before Franco even entered the stage.

Master of ceremonies: Saxophone player Isaac Musekiwa (who had been with Franco since 1957 and would die only three months or so after Franco), can be seen in the first two pictures on the far left.

Franco had to be helped walking across the stage. Then, he was helped onto a chair on the stage.

The song to be performed was Chacun Pour Soi, composed by Josky Kiambukuta (who was not present).

As soon as he started touching the strings of his guitar, the hairs in my neck stood right up. He was too sick to play, really.

During the first part of the song and during his vocal solo, Franco was still on his chair. Then, when he started what was supposed to become his guitar solo, he tried to stand up, between 6:26 and 6:41 into the clip. Two band members had to hold him up, keep him from collapsing. In the interview he refers to this, he had felt obliged to stand up, but he just couldn't do it anymore.

After this, he was escorted off the stage, leaving the orchestra and the audience in total disorientation. I can hardly imagine there was a dry eye in the house by then.

A short interview was done by Boune Zouboye, right after this, which can be heard at the end of the clip.

A little while later, "manager" Manzenza (on the left in the picture here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5oOVC6vbns ) escorted Franco out of the building, to the Mercedez waiting there, to be driven back to Belgium. At this time, the orchestra was still on the stage.

20 Days after this gig, on Thursday, October 12th, 1989, L'Okanga Lwa Ndjo Pene Luambo Makiadi died, aged 51, in a hospital in Namur, Belgium.

Ton Verhees was the one who had the strength to take these historic pictures. However, Ton took more pictures before the actual (very short performance), than during it. So some of the pictures you see after the song, were actually taken before it, including the one during the interview.

The recording was made by WorldSrv
( http://www.youtube.com/user/WorldSrv )

http://wrldsrv.blogspot.com/2009/09/twenty-years-ago.html

...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Franco
• Rumba
• Zaire
• Africa
• TPOKJazz

[Brianmbeya]

A great artist,definitely lived before his time.RIP

[khamano48]

This is my first time of listening to Franco's last stage performance. O Lord, all the commentaries befit the mood. That was not the Real African Franco O.K. Jazz playing that guitar. Congo music lovers and those who understand Lingalla still enjoyed the music. No one can yet underestimate Late Mr. Franco in the music industry.

s

[legrandmaitre]

RIP Le Grand Maitre Franco.

[ngadiadiangadios]

wow, this was terrible..i wish there were images to see how he was looking while he played that solo :o c triste vraiment,mais je crois ke c'etait juste pour dire au revoir a ces fans

[lamberto141]

ici a amterdam ,[melk weg hall] bcp de stars congolais ont joues ici,[gd-pere-bozi et autres] vive lezaire ,l,amour ,la paix, lasecurite i love this times gd maitre ,repose en paix dieu est misericordieux ,

[0725796746]

Oh God! i din't have had a chance to see him perform because i was born in 1980.He died in 1989 i was only 9yrs.To me franco is history.My dad has alot of his best songs in our home library i can't skip a day without listening to his music.What a talented guitarist he was?his voice was out of this world i tell you.What could be the decease that took the life of this african king of music? i love you Mr.Makiadi the oh tears, tears, tears flow out of my eyes whenever your music is played .RIP

[tbwanat]

Very sad. Thanx Abou 4 this. I can only imagine ua feeling in tht hall n then ua interview with him afterwards. Very sad!

[interaeronav]

Its like watching a man die in front of your eyes

[Zappowx]

brings tears to my eyes