Pick of the Week - Frank and His Sisters (Tanzania)

A 12-track release from Mississippi Records featuring a Tanzanian trio.

When I ran across the song "Shida" by the Tanzanian group, Frank and His Sisters, I thought it sounded kind of familar. I might be off the mark, but to my ear it kind of resembles "A Summer Song," a 1964 hit by Chad and Jeremy. In any event, it's a great song and there are eleven more on this Bandcamp release from Mississippi Records. Here's a snip from their description:

The world’s first collection of gorgeous pop songs from Frank and His Sisters, a family band from Moshi, Tanzania. Formed in the early 1950s by Frank Humplick, Thecla Clara and Maria Regina, the trio recorded and toured throughout East Africa and issued a string of instant classics, capturing fans with their beautifully harmonized singing, clever lyrics, and Frank’s stunning guitar work. Imagine the fingerstyle finesse of John Fahey with a pure pop melodicism, combined with the family harmony of groups like The Carter Family, The Roches, and The Beach Boys, set in the golden age of Tanzanian music!

Previously only heard on extremely rare 78 rpm discs and Tanzanian oldies radio, this album collects the trio’s finest songs, lovingly restored and remastered. We love this music so much that in late 2018 we traveled to Tanzania to meet Frank’s family and collaborate on this album. The result is a colorful 8-page booklet featuring complete lyrics in English, Swahili and Chaga, as well as previously unpublished photographs, extensive interviews and anecdotes, and a biography by Tanzanian musician and radio host John Kitime. All tracks fully licensed from the Humplick family.