DESCRIPTION:
Tonton Macoute was a progressive jazz/rock band formed in the UK in 1971 from the remaining 4 musicians of Windmill after the death of lead singer/guitarist Dick Scott in a road accident whilst on tour. Both bands were managed by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikely (Matthews Southern Comfort/The Herd/and Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Titch).
The personnel consisted of Paul French-vox and keys, Dave Knowles- vox, sax and flute, Chris Gavin (Gavin Wilkinson)-guitar and bass, and Nigel Reveler-drums and percussion,
Paul went on to form Voyager who charted in 1979 with a song entitled Halfway Hotel. They released 3 albums too, before disbanding in 1982. They have recently reformed to release the album Eyecontact. He performs regularly at The Piano, 106 Kensington High St.
Dave formed his own band Turbo in the 70s and now lives in Cornwall.
Gavin went on to practice fine art and photography, but still plays regularly in the Newbury area.
Nigel has a successful career within the record industry and currently runs a distribution company Active Media.
In Haitian Creole mythology Tonton Macoute (Uncle Gunnysack) was the name of a boogeyman who walked the streets after dark, and would kidnap children who stayed out too late. He stowed them away in his gunnysack, never to be seen again.
It was also the name of Haitian dictator Papa Doc Duvallier's brutal presidential guard.