Hailing from Trinidad, Black Truth Rhythm Band were a large ensemble fronted by vocalist Oluko Imo. What separated the group from other bands in the region was that rather than look to American popular music for inspiration, they drew directly from African sources like Afro-beat and other pop styles on the continent (the group's members even took African names). Deeply influenced by Fela, Sonny Okosun, and Ebo Taylor, BTRB created a hybrid sound that drew on the new African music as well as the regional vocal stylings of other Caribbean nations. Their singular and spacy meld of funk, jazz, soul, proto-reggae, steel band, and Afro-beat was evidenced on their lone album, Ifetayo, issued in 1976, and later reissued on both CD and LP by Soundway. After BTRB disbanded, Imo went on to sing with Fela's Egypt 80 band. ~ Thom Jurek