One Man’s Story

The true-life tale of a New York musician who made his home in Liverpool is being premiered in a special fund-raising event in the city this September.

The production, directed by Jen Heyes and with musical direction by Mark Anthony Jones, tells the transatlantic story of the late 'Bongo' Eddie Folk, the Brooklyn-born percussionist from Kid Creole and the Coconuts who came to Liverpool, had his much loved son here, and made the city on the Mersey his home, before meeting and falling in love with Carolyn Edwards, founder and Director of Genie In The Gutter. The production features live music, dance and theatrical
performance and the full cast will be announced soon.

It explores his against-the-odds rise, taking its audience from his upbringing in 1950s Brooklyn to his success as a world-class percussionist and vocalist, including a 30-year career with Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and the years he spent living in Liverpool.

'Bongo' Eddie was a patron of Genie In The Gutter, which supports people in recovery through creative and performance arts. One Man’s Story will involve clients both on stage and behind the scenes, working alongside a fantastic team of theatre professionals.

The show has been written by Genie In The Gutter’s Carolyn Edwards, and it also charts their love story – along with her grief at his death from cancer in 2016, and the creative awakening she has experienced since.