Their father, Jean-Robert Yoka Mpela, was a former seminarist and organist, and their mother, Marie-Madeleine, a singer. Alain’s initial repertoire consisted of religious songs performed at his father’s catholic school.
Baada ya Mobutu Sese Seko kushika nchi na kukawa na amani katika nchi iliyoitwa sasa Zaire franco alirudi 1966. Akashiriki katika Tamasha la Sanaa Za Afrika lililofanyika Kinshasa 1966 na Franco akawa kipenzi cha serikali ya Mobutu.