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Shortcut Code: [a75729]
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TKA

Real Name:
Tony Ortiz, Louis Ramon Sharpe, Ralph Cruz, Angel Vasquez, George Garcia
Profile:
Tony Ortiz (aka "O"), Louis Ramon Sharpe (aka Kayel or K7), Ralph Cruz (aka "Aby"), Angel Vasquez (aka Angel "Love"), George LaMond (real name: George Garcia).

TKA stands for Tony, Kayel and Aby (later, Angel).

In early 1985, Latino vocalist Louis Sharpe (aka Kayel) submitted a rap demo to producer Joey Gardner at Tommy Boy Music. Gardner rejected it, but agreed to hear Kayel –along with friends Tony, Aby, and "Spider"– sing Kayel's ballad "[m=70651]" over rap instrumentals at a birthday party in an East Harlem church basement. Gardner was impressed, and also happened to meet The Latin Rascals –members Tony Moran and Albert Cabrera– at the same party.
Envisioning a possible Latin disco version of Planet Patrol, Gardner brought all six musicians into the studio to record a rough demo of "[m=70651]", and encouraged the group to generate a buzz by playing various free shows in the summer of 1985. Soon after, they were signed to Tommy Boy, and released "[m=70650]" as their first single. One month later, Spider was voted out of the group. For a short time, female singer India was a member of the group, and at some point, Aby departed and was replaced by Angel Vasquez.

Under pressure from Warner Brothers to record only relatively accessible pop songs, and unsure of what direction to take as a group, TKA decided to split up in late 1991, but continue performing until October 1992. Kayel began recording as K7, Tony created the artist management and production company TPR Productions, and Vasquez cofounded R'n'B trio Goodfellaz, which released an album in 1997 called "[m=79539]".

Following a reunion concert in 2000, TKA reformed and released an album of new material in 2001, "Forever". In 2003, Angel was replaced by George LaMond, and the trio of Tony, Kayel and LaMond made themselves available to tour, performing TKA and George LaMond hits, under the name TKG. In 2005, former member Ralph Cruz, under the name Aby, released an album of new versions of TKA hits.
Members:
Variations:
All | TKA | Tee-Kay-A
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Discography

Releases:
Come Get My Love (Maxi) (6 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1986
One Way Love (Maxi) (7 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1986
Scars Of Love (Album) (4 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1987
Scars Of Love (2 versions)   Tommy Boy Music 1987
Tears May Fall (2 versions)   Tommy Boy Music 1987
Don't Be Afraid (2 versions)   Tommy Boy Music 1988
X-Ray Vision (2 versions)   Tommy Boy Music 1988
You Are The One (Maxi) (5 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1989
Crash (Have Some Fun) (Single, Maxi) (6 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1990
Give Your Love To Me (12")   Tommy Boy Music 1990
Give Your Love To Me (CD, Maxi)   Tommy Boy Music 1990
I Won't Give Up On You (Maxi, Single) (7 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1990
Louder Than Love (Album) (4 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1990
Greatest Hits (Comp) (3 versions)   Tommy Boy Music ... 1992
Maria (2 versions)   Tommy Boy Music 1992
Forever (CD)   Tommy Boy Music 2001
Freestyle Classics One (12")   Freestyle Classics  
Production:
Bad Boy Joe Presents The Best Of Freestyle Megamix Volume 2 (CD) Maria What If Productions 2004
Tracks Appear On:
Modern Girls (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (LP) One Way Love Warner Bros. Records 1986
Dance Club Beat (Cass, Album) X-Ray Vision K-Tel 1989
Lean On Me (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Cass, Album, Comp) You Are The One Warner Bros. Records 1989
Lean On Me - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (LP) You Are The One Warner Bros. Records 1989
Series 8, Issue 5 (2x12", Promo) You Are The One Hot Tracks 1989
Issue 5 (2x12", Promo) Crash Powerhouse Records 1990
Grandmix 90 (CD) I Won't Give Up On You DMC 1991
Hot Tracks 10-3 (CD, Comp, Promo) Give Your Love To Me Hot Tracks 1991
Turn Up The Bass - Volume 12 (CD) Crash (Have Some Fun) Arcade 1991
Turn Up The Bass 6 (2xLP) Crash (Have Some Fun) Arcade 1991
So... Boom! (Cass, Promo) Maria (Radio Edit) Tommy Boy Music 1992
Freestyle - Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Vol. 3 (2 versions) Scars Of Love, Tears M... Tommy Boy Music 1994
Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Volume 01 (CD, Comp) One Way Love Tommy Boy Music 1994
Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Volume 02 (CD) Come Get My Love Tommy Boy Music 1994
Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Volume 04 (CD) Don't Be Afraid Tommy Boy Music 1994
Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Volume 05 (CD) You Are The One Tommy Boy Music 1994
Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Volume 06 (CD) Give Your Love To Me, ... Tommy Boy Music 1994
Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Volume 07 (2 versions) Maria Tommy Boy Music 1994
Freestyle's Greatest Hits Volume 4 (CD, Comp) Maria SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1996
The Box Presents Big Ones Of Dance - Vol. 1 (CD) Louder Than Love Polygram Special Markets 1996
This Is Freestyle 3 (CD) Maria Quality Records / Quality Music & Video 1996
X-Mix Dance Series 34 (2x12") One Way Love X-Mix 1996
Flash House 2 (CD, Comp) X-Ray Vision Fieldzz Discos 1997
Freestyle's Greatest Collection (4xCD, Comp) Maria SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1997
The Best Freestyle Album In The Universe Vol. 1 (CD, Comp) Tears May Fall Essex Entertainment, Inc. 1997
The Best Freestyle Album In The Universe Vol. 3 (CD) Come Get My Love Essex Entertainment, Inc. 1997
A Taste Of Tommy Boy (CD, Comp, Promo) One Way Love Tommy Boy Music 1998
Freestyle Explosion, Vol. 1 (CD) One Way Love Thump Records 1998
Greatest Beats - Volume 3 (2 versions) Maria (12" Vocal) Tommy Boy Music 1998
Greatest Beats - Volume 4 (2 versions) Louder Than Love Tommy Boy Music 1998
Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats 1981 - 1996 (5xCD + Box) Maria (12" Vocal), Lou... Tommy Boy Music 1998
Bad Boy Joe Presents The Best Of Freestyle Megamix (CD) Tears May Fall What If Productions 2001
Essential 80's - Old.Skool.Electro (2xCD) One Way Love Warner Music (Benelux) 2003
The Best Of Freestyle Megamix Volume 3 (CD + CD) Louder Than Love What If Productions 2003
Bad Boy Joe Presents The Best Of Freestyle Megamix Volume 2 (CD) Maria What If Productions 2004
The Tommy Boy Story Vol. 01 (2 versions) Louder Than Love Rhino Entertainment Company 2006
The Tommy Boy Story Vol.1 (2x12") Louder Than Love Tommy Boy Entertainment, Rhino Entertainment Company 2006
Tommy Boy Story Vol. 01 (2x12") Louder Than Love Rhino Entertainment Company 2006
Forever Freestyle (CD, Comp) Maria Razor & Tie 2007
The 4-Track Era (Volume 2: Best Of The Remixes And Megamixes (1990-1992)) (CD, Promo, Ltd) Give Your Love To Me (... Reconstruction Productions 2007
The 4-Track Era Collection (1990-1992) (3xCD, Comp) Give Your Love To Me (... Reconstruction Productions 2009
Clubtrax 16 (12", Promo) Crash (Tyler Coleman R... Clubtrax  
Freestyle's Greatest Groups 2 (CD) Tears May Fall Micmac Records, Inc.  
Funkymix 11 (3x12", Comp, Promo) Maria Ultimix  
Mariamix / Take My Breath Away / Lovemix / Save The Best For Last (12") Maria (Mariamix), Loud... Not On Label  
Tune Up - Top 40: 27 (CD, Comp, Promo) Won't Give Up On You Album Network, The  
Ultimix 29 (3x12") You Are The One Ultimix  
Unofficial Releases:
Louder Than Love / Is It Love (12")   Anais Records 1991
4-Track Remixes (12", Comp) Give Your Love To Me (... DJ Shadow (White) 2008
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YouTube Videos

TKA - Louder Than Love