Aurra -

Aurra was an American soul-funk band from Dayton, Ohio, that released a self-titled album on Dream Records in 1980, followed by three titles on Salsoul and a fifth on 10 Records between 1981 and 1985. The band was spawned from the original lineup of Slave and gradually slimmed down to the duo of Starleana Young and Curtis Jones, who recorded two further albums together as Déjà during the late 1980s.

Members: Starleana “Star” Young (lead vocals, percussion, 1979-85), Curtis Jones (lead vocals, guitar, percussion, 1979-85), Charles “Cedell” Carter (keyboards, flute, percussion, saxophone, vocals, 1979-80), Buddy “Hanks” Hankerson (bass, 1979-80), Steve Arrington (1979) Tom Lockett (tenor saxophone, percussion, 1981-?), Philip Field (keyboards, 1981-?), Jennifer Ivory (vocals, percussion, handclaps, 1981-?), Steve Washington (bass, guitar, drums, trumpet, percussion, 1981-?), William Young (1979), Mike Young (1979)

Background

Aurra formed in 1979 when Slave leader Steve Washington organized a recording offshoot around vocalist-guitarist Curt Jones, vocalist Starleana Young, bassist Buddy “Hanks” Hankerson, and keyboardist-saxophonist Charles “Cedell” Carter.

Washington was born in Newark and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, where he formed Black Satin Soul with schoolmates Mark Hicks and Tim Dozier. Black Satin Soul later merged with the Young Mystics of Floyd Miller, Mark Adams, and Tom Lockett to form Slave.

Jones grew up in Linden in a musical family. His grandfather, Hirshell Davenport, led the Davenport Blue Rhythm Band, while aunt Penny Davenport recorded for the Tri-Phi label of Harvey Fuqua and Gwen Gordy. Young grew up in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where she sang hymns in a church choir. Hankerson played with Young brothers Billy, Mike, and Kenneth in the East Orange groups Young Movement and Flashflood.

Jones and Young sang together in Symphonic Express, later Starchild. Symphonic Express mixed songs with theatrical skits and tap routines in New Jersey clubs. The group also toured with the Average White Band. Penny Davenport introduced Washington to the group, and he began to advise the musicians. Young joined Slave for the 1978 album The Concept. Jones stayed with Starchild for another year, then joined Washington and Young in Slave. Jones contributed songs to the 1979 Slave album Just a Touch of Love.

Formation

Washington conceived Aurra as an outlet for Slave touring personnel and musicians from his New Jersey circle. He sought a separate label for the project because Slave remained under contract to Atlantic Records. Washington also brought Steve Arrington and Young brothers Billy and Mike into early Aurra lineups.

Washington developed a separate Curt Jones recording project within the Slave production operation. Jones proposed a duet with Young for those sessions; they recorded the first Aurra material between Just a Touch of Love and Stone Jam. Washington secured a Salsoul contract for Aurra and placed the project on the Dream subsidiary. Aurra entered production on a six-track self-titled album for Dream Records with Washington, Carter, and Lockett as producers.

Discography: