U.S. Release of KUKU's Unexpected Pleasures on City Hall Records/Distribution

NEW YORK (KUKU RECORDINGS/ www.kukulive.com) - After its initial street release on April 25th, 2006, Nigerian soul singer/songwriter, KUKU's full-length debut, Unexpected Pleasures, was released stateside on June 20th on his Mr. Kuku Recordings label via Mulatta Records, NY and City Hall distribution. KUKU is currently playing dates in east coast region and his home base, Washington DC. Critics are virtually unanimous in proclaiming 'Unexpected Pleasures' a refreshing, soul album. Old Town Alexandria, Virginia's news magazine, Old Town Crier, calls the album '...quite hypnotic, healing for the mind and spirit.'

Unexpected Pleasures opens with the sensual title track and builds to a lush, matrimonial climax in the epic final track, 'You Free Me', to exclude the untitled Prince influenced bonus track. In between, KUKU travels through spectrum of emotions, sharing poignant stories of love and loss and triumph and beauty. His sound is enriched by its minimalist acoustic guitar driven instrument arrangement courtesy of KUKU's long time production partner Alexei Tsybine Jendayi.

KUKU is equally fascinating in his live performance. Khajidah Ali Coleman of Washington DC's, Capital Community News magazine, describes '...reminiscent of the acoustic calm of Tracey Chapman mixed with the passion of Marvin Gaye.' The shows reveal the wide range of KUKU vocal skills-percussive finger picking guitar as well as KUKU's humorous and charismatic side-complemented with impression that range from Louie Armstrong to Macy Gray. You might even catch him revamping some of Fela Anikulapo Kuti classics from time to time.

For more information please contact Abdul Adebola or Odessa Stewart by visiting the official KUKU website at www.kukulive.com. You can also contact via phone: 703 354 3008

Upcoming show dates
6.28.06 SOBS, NY
6.29.06 Bohemian Caverns, DC
7.02.06 Cafe Nema, DC
7.05.06 Sugar Bar, NY
7.07.06 Sankofa Video and Books, DC
7.12.06 Old Post Office Pavilion, DC
7.15.06 Old Post Office Pavilion, DC
7.19.06 Old Post Office Pavilion, DC
7.22.06 Gunston Theater, Arlington VA
7.26.06 Old Post Office Pavilion
8.11.06 Notre Maison, Baltimore MD
8.12.06 Naija Fest, Baltimore MD
8.17.06 The Arc, DC
8.27.06 DC 9, DC
8.27.06 DC 9, DC
9.10.06 Los Angeles, CA
12.9.06 Nigeria, West Africa