Chicago are an American band formed in 1967; noted as one of the first rock acts with an integrated three-piece brass section. Between 1969 and 1980, they released twelve studio albums on Columbia, followed by five albums on Warner. For eleven years, they maintained the same seven members: keyboardist–singer Robert Lamm, guitarist–singer Terry Kath, bassist–singer […]
Colosseum was an English brass-rock band that released the 1969 albums Those Who Are About to Die Salute You (Fontana) and Valentyne Suite (Vertigo). They were led by drummer Jon Hiseman and reedist Dick Heckstall-Smith, fellow travelers in the Graham Bond Organization and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. As an instigator of pop’s shift into maximalism, they […]
Manfred Mann Chapter Three was an English jazz-rock/psych band that released two albums on Vertigo: Manfred Mann Chapter Three (1969) and Volume Two (1970). They were a followup to keyboardist Manfred Mann’s namesake R&B/beat combo of the 1960s. He followed this project with the Earth Band for a 13-album run between 1972 and 1987. Members: […]
The Greatest Show on Earth was an English brass-rock band that released the albums Horizons and The Going’s Easy on Harvest in 1970. All eight members initially grouped in the Ossie Laine Show, an R&B covers band that cut an album for the Spanish market. Bassist Norman Watt-Roy later surfaced in Ian Dury’s Blockheads. Members: […]
Trifle was an English brass-rock/funk band that released a standalone single on United Artists in 1969, followed by the album First Meeting on Dawn in 1970. Trumpeter Dick Cuthell became an in-demand sessionist in the years that followed, appearing on albums by Nasty Pop, Burning Spear, Delroy Washington, XTC, The Specials, Chaz Jankel, Linton Kwesi […]
Archie Whitewater was an American brass-rock/soul band that released a self-titled album on Cadet Concept in 1970. Members: Bob Berkowitz (keyboards), Fred Johnson (vocals), Jim Abbott (drums), Lynn Sheffield (alto saxophone, percussion), Paul Metzke (guitar), Peter La Barbera (percussion), Sam Burtis (trombone), Tony Vece (bass guitar), Travis Jenkins (tenor saxophone, flute, vocals) Background Archie Whitewater […]
The Third Avenue Blues Band (spelled numerically after their first single) was an American brass-rock/soul sextet that released three singles on MCA-subsidiary Revue in 1968/69, collected with other material on the 1970 album Fantastic. Members: Bob Beasley (saxophone), Hadley Hockensmith (guitar, bass), Harold Jones (vocals), Bill Maxwell (drums), Harlan Rogers (vocals, organ, piano), Mark Underwood […]
4th Cekcion was an American brass-rock band from Bellaire, Texas, that released a self-titled album on local-press Solar Records in 1970. Members: Greg Isaacs (vocals, keyboards), Stewart Rojo (guitar), Mike St. Clair (bass), Louie Broussard (percussion), Richard Cantu (woodwinds), Gary Weldon (brass) Background 4th Cekcion formed in Bellaire when brass player Gary Weldon and reedist […]
Gas Mask was an American brass-rock band from N.Y.C. that released one album, Their First Album, on Tonsil Records in 1970. Members: Bill Davidson (lead guitar), Richard Grando (winds), David Gross (saxophone), Nick Oliva (keyboards), Bobby Osborne (vocals), Enrico Rava (trumpet), James Strassburg (drums), Ray Brooks (bass, ?-1970), Lynn Welshman (trombone, 1970-?), Michael Moore (bass, […]
Galliard was an English brass-rock band from Birmingham that released the 1969/70 Deram albums Strange Pleasure and New Dawn. Frontman Geoff Brown continued in the mid-’70s jazz-funk combo Muscles. Along with Colosseum, Heaven, Brainchild, the Greatest Show on Earth, and the Keef Hartley Band, Galliard represented a UK wing of the brass-laden jazz-rock-soul sound, reflecting […]
Iguana was an English brass-rock/funk band from Southampton that released a self-titled album on Polydor in 1972. They later became the backing band for singer Jess Roden. Members: Ronnie Taylor (alto saxophone, tambourine), Bruce Roberts (guitar, vocals), John Cartwright (bass, drums), Chris Gower (trombone, tambourine), Pete Hunt (drums, congas), Don Shinn (keyboards, 1971-72), Steve Webb […]
Brainchild was an English jazz-rock/soul band that released the album Healing of the Lunatic Owl on A&M in 1970. Members: Harvey Coles (bass, vocals), Bill Edwards (lead guitar, vocals), Chris Jennings (organ, piano), Brian Wilshaw (saxophone, flute), Lloyd Williams (trumpet), Ian Goss (trombone), Dave Muller (drums) Inception Brainchild congregated in Somerset at the close of […]
Room was an English jazz-rock/soul band from Blandford Forum, Dorset, that released the album Pre-Flight on Deram in 1970. Members: Chris Williams [C.K. Williams] (lead guitar), Roy Putt (bass), Pete Redfern (drums, 1968-69), Roger Hope (vocals, 1968), Scott (guitar, 1968), Jane Kevern (vocals, tambourine, harmonium, 1968-?), Steve Edge (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, 1968-70), Bob Jenkins […]
The Swinging Soul Machine was a Dutch brass-rock-soul band that released the album Through The Eye on Polydor in 1969. After a change of singers, the band became Machine and issued a self-titled album in 1970. Several members carried on in Tantalus and others surfaced in Limousine. Members: Iwan Groeneveld (vocals, 1969), John Caljouw (vocals), […]
Mr. Albert Show was a Dutch sax-rock band that released a self-titled album on Philips in 1970, followed by Warm Motor in 1971. Members: Bertus Borgers (saxophone, flute, vocals), Roeland “Broer” Boogaart (drums), Tom Fautu Bun (bass), Eric Lintermans (guitar, vocals), Bonkie Bongaerts (organ), Floortje Klomp [Fleur Colombe] (vocals) Background Mr. Albert Show formed after […]
Aquila were a Welsh sax-rock band that issued a self-titled album on RCA Victor in 1970. The band included several players with documented beat and psych backgrounds, most notably guitarist/vocalist Ralph Denyer, who played with Blonde on Blonde on their 1969 album Contrasts. Members: Ralph Denyer (vocals, guitar), Phil Childs (bass, piano), George Lee (flute, […]
Ten Wheel Drive was an American brass-rock band from New Jersey that released three albums on Polydor between 1969 and 1971, followed by a fourth on Capitol in 1973. Members: Genya Ravan (vocals, harmonica, tambourine), Aram Schefrin (guitar, vocals, banjo, percussion), Michael Zager (organ, piano, clarinet), Annie Sutton (vocals, 1973-74) Ten Wheel Drive was formed […]
The Second Coming were an American brass-rock band that released a self-titled album on Mercury in 1970. Members: Jack Kramer (trumpet, bugle, trombone, background vocals), Buddy Stephens (trumpet, lead vocals), Bill Dinwiddie (trombone, percussion, background vocals), Rick Rudolph (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, alto flute, trombone), Les King (drums, congas, percussion, timpani), Dave Miller (Hammond organ, […]
Dreams were an American brass-rock band from N.Y.C. that released two albums on CBS/Columbia in 1970 and 1971. The band featured numerous members who would later attain star status in the annals of jazz-rock, including drummer Billy Cobham, bassist Will Lee, and the sax/trumpet team of brothers Randy and Michael Brecker. Members: Jeff Kent (vocals, […]
Chelsea Beige were an American brass-rock band that released the album Mama, Mama Let Your Sweet Bird Sing on Epic in 1971. Members: Allan Springfield, Billy Schwartz, Chris Efthimiam, Dominick Aloi, Earl Ford, John Scorzello, Kenny Lehman, Lloyd Michels, Stafford James Discography: Mama, Mama Let Your Sweet Bird Sing (1971)
Chase were an American brass-rock band from Las Vegas that released three albums on Epic between 1971 and 1974. Members: Bill Chase (trumpet), Ted Piercefield (trumpet, vocals, 1970-74), Alan Ware (trumpet, 1970-74), Jerry Van Blair (trumpet, vocals, 1970-74), Terry Richards (vocals, 1970-72), Phil Porter (keyboards, 1970-74), Angel South (guitar, vocals, 1970-74), Dennis Johnson (bass, vocals, […]
Blood, Sweat & Tears were an American brass-rock/soul band from N.Y.C., formed in 1967 by Blues Project alumni Al Kooper and Steve Katz. After their 1968 Columbia debut Child Is Father to the Man, Kooper and trumpeter Randy Brecker departed for prolific solo and collaborative careers. In 1969, a revised lineup with vocalist David Clayton-Thomas […]
The Sons of Champlin were an American brass-rock/soul band from San Francisco, formed in 1965 by namesake vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter Bill Champlin. Members: Bill Champlin (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Tim Cain (saxophone, 1965-70), Terry Haggerty (guitar, 1965-77), John Prosser (bass, 1965-67), Jim Meyers (drums, 1965-67), Geoff Palmer (keyboards, alto saxophone, vibraphone, 1967-77, 1997-present), Jim […]
Round House were a Swiss brass-rock band that released two albums and a standalone single on Harvest in 1972 and 1973. Members: Bernd Heil (guitar, bass, vocals), Ralph Bloch (drums), Jean-Pierre Wuttke (tenor saxophone, alto saxophone), Gustav Csik (organ, tenor saxophone), Laszlo Juhasz (trumpet, bass), Kurt Weil (trombone, vibraphone) Discography: ‘Scuse Me (1972) “Listen People” […]
Pinguin were a German sax-rock band that released the album Der Grosse Rote Vogel on Zebra in 1972. Members: Klaus Gebauer (vocals), Markus Schaub (guitar, percussion, vocals), Joe Voggenthaler (guitar, percussion), Tom Wohlert (bass, bongo), K.D Blahak (drums), Volker Plitz (organ, percussion), Elmar Kast (saxophone, flute, percussion) Discography: Der Grosse Rote Vogel (1972)
Pig Iron were an American brass-rock band from NYC that released a self-titled album on CBS/Columbia in 1970. Members: Alan Abrahams (lead vocals, drums), Marty Fogel (saxophone), Adam Ippolito (keyboards, trumpet, vocals), Bill Peters (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Squire (trumpet), Gary Van Scyoc (bass, trumpet, vocals) Discography: Pig Iron (1970)
Puzzle were an American jazz-funk/soul band from Chicago that released two albums on Motown in 1973/74. The band recorded a third album, How Do We Get Out of This Business Alive, that remains unreleased. Vocalist/percussionist John Valenti subsequently released two albums. Members: John LiVigni [aka John Valenti] (vocals, drums, percussion), Anthony Siciliano (bass), Bobby Villalobos […]
Emergency were a German brass-rock band that released a pair of albums on CBS in 1971 and 1972, followed by two further titles on Brain during 1973 and 1974. Members: Hanus Berka (saxophone, flute, keyboards, Mellotron), Otto Bezloja (bass, 1970-73), Udo Lindenberg (drums, 1970-71), Jiří Matoušek (keyboards, 1970-73), Barrie Newby (guitar), Miloš Vokurka [Reddy] (vocals, […]
Creative Rock were a German brass-rock band that released two albums on Brain between 1972 and 1974. Members: Heiko Steinsiek (drums), Klaus Weber (guitar, percussion), Rainer Erbel [Steve Haggerty] (vocals), Günter Schmeide (guitar, bass), Michael Maas (bass, guitar), Benny Stremmel (tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute), Hubertus Kreutner (trumpet, flugelhorn), Apostolos Papanikolaou (lead guitar) Discography: Gorilla […]
Rock Workshop were a British brass-rock/blues band that released two albums on CBS/Epic during 1970 and 1971. The first album features Scottish vocalist Alex Harvey, just prior to the formation of his namesake band. Guitarist Ray Russell handles the arrangements on both albums, which also feature the trumpet/flugelhorn playing of Harry Beckett. Members: Alan Greed, […]
Coley were an English brass-rock/funk combo that released the album Goodbye Brains on self-press Coley Records in 1972. Members: Bernard Shaw (Glockenspiel, Vibraslap), Henry Lowther (Flugelhorn), Peter Bocking (Guitar) Discography: Goodbye Brains (1972)
Ambergris were an American brass-rock/soul band that released a self-titled album on Paramount Records in 1970, followed by a standalone single on said label in 1971. The band was formed by bassist/keyboardist Jerry Weiss, an original member of Blood, Sweat & Tears who played on that band’s 1968 debut Child Is the Father to Man. […]
Uncle Chapin were an American brass-rock band from New York that released a self-titled album on Polydor in 1971. Members: Donny Olson (lead vocals, bass), Angelo Ficara (lead vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar), Mike Mattia (trumpet, flugelhorn, piano, percussion), Carl Shickler (guitar, trombone, flute), John Briganti (drums), James Rosolino (lead vocals, trumpet), Paul Mergingoff (piano, organ, […]
Elephant’s Memory were an American soul-rock/psych band from New York that released a self-titled album on Buddah in 1969. Amid several lineup changes, the band released an album apiece on Metromedia, Apple, and RCA Victor between 1971 and 1974. In 1972, they backed John Lennon on the first half of his double-set Some Time in […]
The Loading Zone was an American brass-rock-soul band that released a self-titled album on RCA Victor in 1968, followed by One for All on Umbrella in 1970. They launched the career of soul singer Linda Tillery, who later recorded solo, first as Sweet Linda Divine. Members: Peter Shapiro (guitar, 1965-69), Steve Dowler (rhythm guitar, 1965-69), […]
Rastus were an American brass-rock band that released an eponymous live double-album on GRT in 1971, followed by the studio album Steamin’ on Neighborhood Records in 1972. Members: – Discography: Live (2LP, 1971) Steamin’ (1972)
Flow were an American sax-rock/psych band from Ocala, Fla., that released a self-titled album on CTI Records in 1970. Members: John Winter (piano, electric piano, organ, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, harmonica), Don Felder (guitar), Chuck Newcomb (bass, vocals), Mike Barnett (drums), Ed Shaughnessy (percussion), Angel Allende (percussion), Johnny Pacheco (percussion) Discography: Flow (1970)
Zoo were a French sax-rock band that released three albums with accompanying singles on Riviera between 1969 and 1972. Members: Michel Bonnecarrère (guitar), Tony Canal (trumpet), Daniel Carlet (saxophone, violin), Joël Daydé (vocals, 1968-70), Christian Devaux (drums), Pierre Fanen (guitar, 1968-70), André Hervé (keyboards), Michel Hervé (bass), Michel Ripoche (saxophone, violin, trombone), Ian Bellamy (vocals, […]
RODAN were an American brass-rock band from California that released a self-titled album on one-press Pandora in 1974. The band initially gigged under the name MAX. Multi-instrumentalist David Cortopassi — alternately credited as David Cortaparst — played in garage-rockers The Elastik Band during the late 1960s. Members: David Cortopassi, Scott Williams, Forrest Buchtel, Scott Page, […]
Aura were an American brass-rock band from Los Angeles that released a self-titled album on Mercury in 1971. Members: Al Lathan (vocals, percussion), Jerry Smith (bass, vocals), Bill Waidner (guitar), George Barr (trumpet, vocals), Fred Entesari (saxophone), Andy Foertsch (trombone), Sam Alessi (keyboards), Dennis Horan (drums) Discography: Aura (1971)
The Keef Hartley Band was an English brass-rock ensemble that released five albums and a live disc on Deram between 1969 and 1972. Drummer/bandleader Keef Hartley and frontman/songwriter Miller Anderson later collaborated in Broken Glass and Dog Soldier, releasing one album with each band in 1975. Members: Keef Hartley (drums), Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals), Gary […]
Heaven was an English brass-rock band that played the 1969 and 1970 Isle of Wight festivals. In 1971, they made the double-album Brass Rock 1, released on CBS in a lavish six-fold sleeve. It features the talents of trombonist David Horler (Michael Gibbs, Garuda, Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass, Kenny Wheeler Big Band) and […]
Jellyroll was an American brass-rock band from Cincinnati that released a self-titled album on Kapp Records in 1971. Members: Roger Troy (lead vocals), Eddie Setser (guitar), Tim Hedding (keyboards, backing vocals), Lee Asch (alto, tenor, baritone saxophone), Dave Parkinson (tenor saxophone), Bob Thorne (trumpet), Joe DeAguero (conga), Stu Perry (drums, percussion) Background Jellyroll evolved from […]
Ballin’jack were an American brass-rock band from Seattle that released two albums on Columbia between 1970 and 1972, followed by a third album and a live disc on Mercury in 1973/74 . Members: Luther Rabb (bass, vocals), Ronnie Hammon (drums), Glenn Thomas (guitar, mandolin), Jim Coile (saxophone, flute, clarinet), Tim McFarland (trombone, piano, backing vocals), […]
The Ides of March were an American brass-rock band from Berwyn, Ill., that released two albums on Warner Bros. in 1970/71, followed by a second pair of titles on RCA Victor in 1972/73. Members: Jim Peterik (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, saxophone), Larry Millas (keyboards, guitar, bass, organ, flute, vocals), Bob Bergland (bass, saxophone, vocals), Michael […]
If was an English sax-rock band from London that released two albums on Island in 1970, followed by a second pair of titles on U.A./Metromedia in 1972/73 and a further pair on Gull during the mid-1970s. Saxophonist Dick Morrissey later formed a prolific partnership with ex-Piblokto!/Oblivion guitarist Jim Mullen in the duo Morrissey Mullen. Members: […]
The Flock were an American jazz-rock/psych band from Chicago that released two albums on CBS/Columbia during 1969 and 1970. Members: Fred Glickstein (guitar, vocals), Ron Karpman (drums, vocals), Jerry Smith (bass, vocals), Rick Canoff (saxophone, vocals, 1966-70), Rick Mann (guitar, vocals, 1966-68), Frank Posa (trumpet, 1967-70), Tom Webb (saxophone, flute, harmonica, vocals, 1967-70), Jerry Goodman […]
Guns & Butter was an American sax-rock/psych band from Boston that released a self-titled album on Cotillion in 1972. Members: Peter Cohen (bass), Lenny Federer (violin, viola), Jeff Lyons (vocals), Richard Ploss (flute, saxophone), Peter Tucker (drums), Paul Cohen (guitar) Background Guns & Butter had its roots in a musical partnership between singer Jeff Lyons […]
The Electric Flag was an American brass-rock band that debuted with a soundtrack recording for the 1967 counterculture film The Trip, followed by two albums on Columbia in 1968 and a third studio release on Atlantic in 1974. Members: Nick Gravenites (vocals, guitar), Buddy Miles (drums, percussion), Mike Bloomfield (guitar, percussion, 1967-68, 1974), Barry Goldberg […]
Hannibal was an English blues-rock band from Birmingham that released a self-titled album on B&C and Philips in 1970. Members: Rolando Alex Boyce [aka Kirk St. James] (lead vocals), Jack Griffiths (bass), Bill Hunt (keyboards), Adrian Ingram (guitar), John Parkes (drums), Cliff Williams (tenor saxophone, clarinet) Background Hannibal formed circa 1969 with two West Midlands […]
Splash were a Swedish brass-rock/jazz-rock band that released the album Ut på Vischan! on Polydor in 1972, followed by two titles on self-press Pla between 1974 and 1978. Members: Christer Holm (saxophone, clarinet, bassoon), Christer Jansson (guitar, violin, vocals), Gösta Rundqvist (organ, piano), Håkan Lewin (saxophone, flute), Jan Erik Westin (drums), Kaj Söderström (bass, vocals), […]
SOD were an American brass-rock band from Las Vegas that released two albums on Decca in 1971/72. Drummer Larry Devers hailed from the local jazz-psych band Loadstone, which issued a self-titled album in 1969. Members: Cal “California” Arnold (bass), Larry Devers (drums, percussion), Michael Green (trumpet), Rick Kellis (saxophone), Jo Jo Molina (keyboards), Don Phillips […]
Walrus was an English brass-rock band that released a self-titled album on Deram in 1970, followed by a standalone a-side in 1971. Members: Steve Hawthorn (bass), John Scates (guitar), Noel Greenaway (vocals), Don Richards (trumpet), Roy Voce (tenor saxophone), Bill Hoad (saxophone), Roger Harrison (drums), Nick Gabb (drums), Barry Parfitt (organ, piano) Background Walrus was […]
Dada was an English brass-rock-soul band that released a self-titled album on Atco in 1970. They featured the husband-wife team of guitarist Pete Gage and vocalist Elkie Brooks. After the album’s release, co-vocalist Paul Korda cleared way for ex-Alan Bown Set singer Robert Palmer. This ushered a reinvention as soul-rockers Vinegar Joe, which released three […]
Horn was a Canadian brass-rock band that released the album On the People’s Side on Special Records in 1972. Members: Wayne Jackson (trumpet), Dave deLaunay (keyboards), Bruce Burron (guitar, alto sax), Billy Bryans (drums), Les Clackett (lead vocals), and Tim Moxam (bass) Discography: On the People’s Side (1972)
Lighthouse was a Canadian brass-rock big band that released three albums on RCA Victor between 1968 and 1970, followed by six further titles on GRT between 1971 and 1974. Members: Skip Prokop (drums), Paul Hoffert (keyboards), Ralph Cole (guitar), Bob McBride (vocals), Russ Little (horns), Arnie Chycoski (horns), Freddy Stone (horns), Howard Shore (saxophone, flute), […]
Illustration were a Québécois brass-rock band that released a self-titled album on Janus in 1969. Members: Garry Beattie (guitar), Norman Burgess (saxophone), Leo Harinen (trumpet), Roger Homefield (trombone), Bill Ledster (lead vocals), Benoit Perreault (trumpet), John Ranger (keyboards), Claude Roy (drums), Donald Sanders (saxophone), Richard Terry (bass), Glenn Higgins (saxophone), Billy Shields (trumpet) Discography: Illustration […]
Guillotine were a Québécois sax-rock band that released a self-titled album on Ampex Records in 1971. Members: Carol Breval (vocals), Paul Morin (guitar), Robert Turmel (bass), André Morin (drums), Pierre Nadeau (organ, piano, harpsichord), Jean Morin (saxophone), Joe Trivisonno, Paul Dalonzo Jr., François Petrari Discography: Guillotine (1971)
Kush were an Australian brass-rock/soul band that released the album Snow White and the Eight Straights on Warner Bros. in 1974, followed by Nah, Tellus Wh’t Kush Means Yer Great Sausage on RCA Victor in 1975. Members: Geoff “Jeff” Duff (vocals, percussion), David Herzog (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Rob Matthews (bass), John Ellis (alto saxophone, […]
Ping Pong were an Italian sax-rock band that released two albums on Emiliana and Spark between 1971 and 1973. Members: Mauro Falzoni (guitar, vocals), Celso Valli (keyboards), Paride Sforza (saxophone, clarinet), Alan Taylor (bass, vocals), Vittorio Volpe (drums), Giorgio Bertolani (vocals, 1973-74) Discography: About Time (1971) Ping Pong (1973)
The Last Nikle was an American brass-rock band from New Orleans that released a self-titled album on Mainstream Records in 1969. Members: Lenny McDaniel (bass, vocals), Wally McDaniel (piano, organ), Roger Bertrand (guitar), Jerry Rouselle (drums), Mike Scorsone (saxophone), Clay Musacchia (trombone), Gordon Schumert (trumpet) Background The Last Nikle was formed by bassist/singer Lenny McDaniel […]
Warehouse was a Dutch brass-rock septet that released the 1972 album Powerhouse and the 1973 standalone single “Tallahassee Lassie” on Imperial. Members: Quido Hereman (vocals, percussion, guitar), Harry Zijlstra (guitar, vocals), Jan de Jong (bass), Jan de Lang (drums, percussion), Klaas Bootsma (organ), Jaap van der Veer (saxophone), Andries Zijlstra (trumpet, vocals) Warehouse evolved from […]
