Darius — aka Robert J. Ottwere — wan American singer/songwriter from Cleveland who released a self-titled album on Chartmaker Records in 1968. Material for a second album was later released by archivists World in Sound. Discography: Darius (1968) II (2002, recorded 1967–71)
The James Gang were an American hard-rock band that debuted with Yer’ Album on Bluesway in 1969, followed by four studio albums and a live disc on ABC Records, including the popular 1970/71 titles Rides Again and Thirds. Two songs, “Funk #49” and “Walk Away,” remain staples of classic rock radio. Multiple guitarists passed through […]
Damnation of Adam Blessing were an American hard-rock/psych band from Cleveland that released three albums on United Artists between 1969 and 1971, followed by a fourth as Glory on small-press Avalanche in 1973. Members: Adam Blessing [Bill Constable] (lead vocals), Bob Kalamasz (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jim Quinn (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Ray Benick (bass […]
The Innocent were an American melodic-rock band from Cleveland that released the album Livin’ in the Street on Capitol-subsidiary Red Label in 1985. Most of the members hailed from local legends Breathless and Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. Members: Rodney Psyka (vocals, percussion), Alan Greene (guitar), Trent Reznor (keyboards), Albritton McClain (bass), Kevin Valentine (drums, […]
Snow were an American pop-psych band from Cleveland that released a self-titled album on Epic in 1968. Members: – Discography: Snow (1968)
Atlantis Philharmonic were an American symphonic-rock band from Cleveland that released a self-titled album on regional-press Dharma Records in 1974. Members: Joe DiFazio (organ, piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, Moog, guitar, bass, bass pedals, lead vocals), Royce Gibson (percussion, backing vocals) Discography: Atlantis Philharmonic (1974)
Dragonwyck were an American hard-rock/psych band from Cleveland that self-released two albums between 1970 and 1972, followed by a further round of recordings during the subsequent three-year period. All of these recordings were reissued in more widely-distributed quantities during later decades. Members: Bill Pettijohn (vocals), Tommy Brame (guitar), Kenneth Staab (keyboards), Michael Gerchak (bass), Jack […]
S.O.U.L. — short for Sounds of Unity and Love — were an American soul-funk band from Cleveland that released two albums on Musicor in 1971 and 1972. Members: Lee Lovett (bass), Gus Hawkins (saxophone, flute), Paul Stubblefield (drums), Walter Winston (guitar, ?-1972), Larry Hancock (vocals, organ, 1971-?), Bernard “Beloyd” Taylor (guitar, 1972-?) Discography: What Is […]
Purple Image were an American soul-psych band from Cleveland that released a self-titled album on Map City in 1970. Members: Warren Adams (vocals, piano, organ), Kenneth Roberts (vocals, rhythm guitar), William Adams (vocals, congas), Frank Smith (lead guitar), Del Moran (bass), Richard Payne (drums), Diane Dunlap (vocals) “Living In the Ghetto” – yelping voices herald […]
Lou Ragland (born July 18, 1942) is an American soul singer from Cleveland. Discography: He Says “Understand Each Other” (1977)
Pere Ubu was an American avant-rock/New Wave band from Cleveland, Ohio, that released two standalone singles on self-press Hearthan Records in 1975/76, followed by the album The Modern Dance on PolyGram-subsidiary Blank Records in 1978. After a pair of titles for Chrysalis, the band released the 1980–82 albums The Art of Walking and Song of […]
Bobby Womack (March 4, 1944 — June 27, 2014) was an American soul singer from Cleveland who released two albums on Minit between 1968 and 1970, followed by eight albums on United Artists between 1971 and 1976. Discography: Fly Me to the Moon (1968) My Prescription (1969) The Womack Live (1970) Communication (1971) Understanding (1972) […]
The Dazz Band were an American soul-funk nine-piece from Cleveland that began life as Kinsman Dazz, releasing two albums under that name on 20th Century Fox Records circa 1978/79. Under the abbreviated nameplate, the band released eight albums on Motown between 1980 and 1986, followed by a ninth on RCA Victor in 1988. Members: Bobby […]
Granicus were an American hard-rock band from Cleveland that released a self-titled album in 1973. Members: Joe Battaglia (drums), Wayne Anderson (guitar), Dale Bedford (bass), Woody Leffel (vocals, guitar), Al Pinelli (guitar) Discography: Granicus (1973) Thieves, Liars, and Traitors (2010, recorded 1973–74)
