Biography
TKA formed in the Puerto Rican neighborhoods of New York City in 1984, when Louis “Kayel” Sharpe, Ralph Cruz, and Angel Vasquez began singing together as teenagers. Tommy Boy Records signed the trio, and their run of singles helped define what freestyle sounded like from a male group: tight harmonies, street-corner romance, and drum machines built for the clubs.
Their debut album, Scars of Love (1987), collected the singles that made their name. “One Way Love,” “Come Get My Love,” “Tears May Fall,” and the title track all became club and radio staples across the Northeast. A second album, Louder Than Love (1990), produced “Maria” and “You Are the One” and pushed the group toward a smoother R&B-influenced sound.
The trio disbanded in the early 1990s. Kayel resurfaced as K7 and scored a national hit with “Come Baby Come” in 1993, then reunited with TKA for tours as the freestyle revival circuit took hold. Few groups have six songs on this site. TKA earned every slot.
Songs
- One Way Love, #36 on the Top 100
- You Are The One, #39 on the Top 100
- Maria, #50 on the Top 100
- Tears May Fall, #61 on the Top 100
- Scars Of Love, #72 on the Top 100
- Come Get My Love