Amnesty -

Amnesty was an American funk band from Indianapolis that released two singles circa 1972/73 on Lamp and 700 West. They recorded a full album that later appeared as the archival Free Your Mind on Now-Again Records.

Members: Calvin Williams, Damon Malone, Herman Walker, James “Gino” Johnson, James “Red” Massie, Joseph Trotter, Kirk Alexander, Raphael Barnes

Background

Amnesty formed in 1968 in Indianapolis when vocal quartet the Embers—Joe Trotter, Damon Malone, George Burke, and A.L. Cobb—teamed with Crimson Tide guitarist Calvin Williams, bassist James “Red” Massie, and drummer P. “Kirk” Alexander. Massie was born May 9, 1952, in Indianapolis and attended School No. 24 and Crispus Attucks High School. Amnesty played through 1970 and then entered a two-year hiatus.

The rhythm section regrouped Amnesty in 1972 with Trotter and Malone. The revived lineup added trumpeter Herman “Squalls” Walker, saxophonist James “Gino” Johnson, and percussionist Raphael Barnes. LAMP Records founder Herb Miller produced Amnesty circa 1972 at Ohmit Recording Studio, the Indianapolis facility run by engineer Les Ohmit. Amnesty issued “Everybody Who Wants to Be Free” on LAMP Records as a two-part single.

The group shared stages in the 1970s with the Jackson 5 and singer Bill Withers. Amnesty self-produced ten tracks between September 22 and November 20, 1973, at the four-track 700 West studio run by engineer Moe Whittemore in New Palestine. Amnesty issued “Three Cheers for My Baby” in 1973 on 700 West (b/w “Lord Help Me”).

Amnesty continued as a live act and gave occasional performances in the 1980s as an Indianapolis ensemble. The remaining 700 West recordings stayed in the archive for more than three decades. Now-Again issued the complete ten-track sessions on February 6, 2007, as Free Your Mind: The 700 West Sessions.

Discography: