After last year's sold out performance for the St. Augustine's College class of 1971 that left people salivating for more, it was clear to the members of the T-Connection that they had to do it again. The group had to get together for a repeat performance -- even if it was only for one night. So the internationally acclaimed Bahamian music group is doing it again on Friday, May 18 with a performance in the Crystal Ballroom at the Wyndham Resort on Friday, May 18.
"After their concert in The Bahamas last year for SAC's class of 1971 event was a sold out event, it was clear there was still an audience who appreciated the style and grace of this instrumental group," said Nelson Armaly of Paragon Concierge and Event Management. "It was so good people were asking for more which is why we wanted to bring them back."
The group T-Connection was originally formed by Theophilus "T" Coakley in 1973. The funk-fusion group put The Bahamas on the map with its unique meshing of funk, Junkanoo, pop, R&B and jazz music and became one of the country's most famous international music groups.
It was originally comprised of Coakley who served as the group's leader, songwriter and keyboard player, bassist Kirkwood Coakley, drummer Berkley Vanbyrd and guitarist Monty Brown. In 1976 Tony "Monks" Flowers joined the band as the percussionist and in 1977 Dave Mackey was added as the second guitarist.
T-Connection produced hits like "Do What you Want to Do", "Disco Magic" and "Take it to the Limit".
Theirs is a history true music connoisseurs should learn about.
"The 1970s was a magical time back then for us," said Theo who served as the group's leader, songwriter and keyboard player. "We were all under 25 at the time when we started out. We started really small, but really good. We played cover stuff at the Show Club which used to be on Bay Street. And due to the positive reception we were invited to play at the Out Island Bar in The Nassau Beach Hotel. Eventually we were so good we moved our sound to Freeport in 1975 where we played at the Kiki Rouge. But we became so popular the lounge's name was changed to The Connection Room."
But the group's major break came in 1976 when they moved to Miami and inked a record deal with TK Records. Their first international hit was an instrumental called "Disco Magic." It was a hit and was featured in many popular discos in its time. The group followed up that success with another hit, "Do What You Want to Do".
In the late 1970s the group was doing so well they were doing tours with famous American groups like Kool and the Gang, the Isley Brothers and War.
They scored two hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1977 and 1979 and had five top 10 hits on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. In the United Kingdom they posted five entries in the UK Singles Chart.
The group produced eight albums entitled "Magic", "On Fire", "T-Connection", "Totally Connected", "Everything is Cool", "Pure n' Natural", "Game of Life" and "Take it to the Limit."
T-Connection officially disbanded in 1985.
"We are all doing our own thing at this point in our lives. For instance, Kirkwood is freelancing; Dave is running his own media house in Freeport; Tony is a part of Baha Men and I've been doing more jazz duets and I'm even looking to complete my own jazz album later this year," Theo revealed.
For the second year in a row the band is reassembling to put on a local concert that promises to take its fans back in time and introduce a new generation to their iconic flavor.
"This upcoming concert will be very energetic," said Theo. "We rarely get together so when we do get together, it's a lot of energy... It's really going to be electric."
T-Connection's fusion of funk and Bahamian sound will be a nice refresher to the modern forms of music according to Armaly.
"Having a concert by a legendary group like the T-Connection is an amazing opportunity," he said.
Armaly said people who missed last year's concert for the SAC Class of 1971 will not want to miss this performance.
"The era groups like this are from is over, but their sound is classic; so I anticipate there will be a great turnout for this event," he said.
It will be a nostalgic night. The group is expected to perform many of their hits -- "Do What you Want to Do", "Disco Magic", "On Fire", "At Midnight", "That's Love", "Everything is Cool", "Best of my Love" and "Take it to the Limit". Their funkadelic sound is bound to take old school music lovers back a few decades and remind them what "real" music was like. It will be a disco worthy night so people are being encouraged to put on their dancing shoes to take full advantage of the night.
T-Connection, a group that has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Earth Wind and Fire, toured with the Village People, Donna Summers and the Bee Gees will create an unforgettable experience that music lovers will not forget.
"This is not just a concert for the old. This is classic," said Armaly.
To add just the right touch to the evening, Jay Mitchell will be the opening act for the group. He is known for songs like "Another Place in Time", "Jumpin the Streets", "Yellow Bird", "Bahamian Sunshine" and "Freeport Town".
Part proceeds from the concert event will go to the Children's Emergency Hostel.
Cocktail tickets are $50, general admission $85 and VIP $100. For ticket purchases, telephone 376-9939 or email nlarmaly@hotmail.com.

T-Connection in concert
When: Friday, May 18
Where: Crystal Ballroom, Wyndham Resort
Time: Doors open at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $50 cocktail style, $85 general admission, $100 VIP

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