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TKO onstage in 1979.

1979 wasn’t a great year to deliver a debut rock album, even one as remarkable as TKO’s Let It Roll. Everybody was doin’ the hustle in ’79. Blondie, Kiss, Rod Stewart, even burly, bearded pop-country champ Kenny Rogers released disco records that year. Of course, it’s not Brad Sinsel’s fault that he was born too late (or too early; the jury’s still out), and so, Let It Roll.

Singer Sinsel was the grand schemer/dreamer behind TKO, and throughout the band’s history, the only consistent member. Praise him or blame him, TKO is Brad Sinsel’s baby. The band’s roots are planted firmly in Yakima, Washington – a city two hours outside of Seattle, and known more for apples and wine than rock’n’roll.