The Jackson 5 was an American soul-pop group composed of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. They formed in 1964, aged between 6 and 13. After multiple talent wins and a local single, they signed to Motown in 1969 and cut ten albums through 1975. Their hits include “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” […]
Deniece Williams is an American soul singer and songwriter with a musical career that dates back to the early 1970s. Between 1976 and 1984, she released seven albums on Columbia/CBS. Distinguished by her high-octave quiver, she scored international hits with “Free,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Background Williams […]
Kellee Patterson is an American singer who released the 1973 album Maiden Voyage on Black Jazz Records, followed by the 1976–79 soul-funk albums Kellee, Turn On the Lights, and All the Things You Are on Shadybrook. Background She was born Karen Lynette Patterson and grew up in Gary, Indiana, where she competed in child talent […]
Larry Ridley (born Sept. 3, 1937) is an American jazz bassist from Indianapolis who released the album Sum of the Parts on Strata-East in 1975. Background Larry Ridley was born September 3, 1937, in Indianapolis and began violin lessons at age five with Ruth McArthur, whose school supported African American students amid segregation. Early classical […]
Zerfas was an American hard-rock/psych band from Indianapolis that released a self-titled album on 700 West in 1973. Members: Dave Zerfas (drums, percussion, vocals), Herman Zerfas (keyboards, vocals), Mark Tribby (bass, guitars, vocals), Steve Newbold (bass, guitars) Background Zerfas formed in Indianapolis in 1969 around brothers Dave and Herman Zerfas. Originally active under the names […]
MX-80 Sound was an American avant-rock band from Bloomington, Indiana, formed amid the first wave of Midwest proto-punk innovators (Pere Ubu, Electric Eels). After their 1976 DIY debut, they linked with Island Records for 1977’s Hard Attack, a blue-print for post-punk, No Wave, and noise-rock styles. On Ralph Records, they made the 1980/81 albums Out […]
Brett Smiley (Sept. 25, 1955 — Jan. 7, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor from Indiana who worked with ex-Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham on a proposed 1974 album. Anchor issued “Va Va Va Voom” (b/w “Space Ace”) in the UK, but RPM first released the full project as Breathlessly Brett in August […]
Masters of Deceit was an American psychedelic rock band that released the 1969 Vangaurd album Hensley’s Electric Jazz Band and Synthetic Symphonette. Members: Gary Campbell (bass, vocals), Stan Gage (drums), Steve Blum (guitar, bass), Tom Hensley (organ, clavinet, piano, lead vocals, tenor saxophone) Inception Masters of Deceit formed in Indianapolis, Indiana, around pianist–composer Tom Hensley, […]
Primevil was an American hard-rock/psych band from Indiana that self-pressed the 1972 single “Too Dead to Live,” followed by the 1974 album Smokin’ Bats at Campton’s on 700 West. Members: Dave Campton (vocals), Larry Lucas (guitar), Jay Wilfong (guitar), Mark Sipe (bass), Mel Cupp (drums) Background Primevil formed near Knightstown, Indiana, where guitarist Jay Wilfong reconnected […]
Maelstrom was an American band from Indianapolis that recorded the 1973 symphonic-rock album On the Gulf, followed by the 1975 free-jazz oriented Paradigms. The latter was issued in its own time by Houston Records; the former was released on CD in 1997 by archivists Black Moon Productions. Members: Robert Williams [aka Roberts Owen] (alto saxophone, […]
Sailor was an American rustic-rock band from Indianapolis that released a self-titled album through the local 700 West label in 1976, their sole full-length release. Members: Jim Arnold (vocals, bass), Jim Dicks (vocals, drums, percussion, bass), Penny Hooker (vocals, keyboards), Norman Knight (vocals, guitar), Dan Vincent (vocals, guitar) For the contemporary English cabaret-glam band, click […]
Mo was the performance moniker of Moe Whittemore, an American musician from Indiana who ran 700 West Recording, a 1970s label behind regional titles by Primevil and Sailor. In 1976, he released his own album in a limited run of 200 copies. The album gained wider circulation in 2014 courtesy of Greek archivists Anazitisi Records. […]
Manchild was an American soul-funk band from Indianapolis that released two albums on Chi Sound Records in 1977 and 1978. They morphed into Redd Hott for a further album on Venture Records in 1982. Guitarist/singer Kenneth Edmonds later achieved fame as Babyface. Members: Reggie Griffin (soprano/tenor saxophone, Clavinet, electric/acoustic guitar, harmonica, backing vocals, handclaps), Anthony […]
Rhythm Machine was an American soul-funk septet from Indianapolis that released a self-titled album on Lulu Records in 1976. Members: James Boone (bass, vocals), Maurice Puckett (guitar, vocals), Robert Dycus (drums, vocals), Donald Harris (tenor/soprano saxophone, vocals), Maride Williams (alto/soprano saxophone, vocals), Hopie Monroe Bronson III (piano, strings, vocals), Dennis McNeil (congas, bongos) Inception Rhythm […]
Buccaneer was an American hard-rock band from Indiana that released a 1980 self-titled album on the DIY label Blunderbuss. Members: Jay Wilfong [aka William Bonney] (vocals, electric guitar), Gary Dunn [aka Lord Vendetta] (bass), Jerry DeRome [aka Madjack] (drums) Background Buccaneer formed in 1979 in Greenfield, Ind., when singer-guitarist Jay Wilfong reunited with drummer Jerry […]
Amulet was an American Midwest hard-rock band that made a 1980 self-titled album on regional-press Shadow Records. Members: Clif Hill (vocals), Bob Becker (guitar), Paul Skelton (bass), John Becker (drums) Background Amulet formed in autumn 1978 in Evansville, Indiana, when guitarist Bob Becker assembled singer Clif Hill, bassist Paul Skelton, and drummer John Becker around […]
Funk, Inc. was an American soul-funk band from Indianapolis that released five albums between 1971 and 1974 on Prestige Records. Members: Bobby Watley (organ, vocals), Steve Weakley (guitar), Gene Barr (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Munford (drums, vocals), Cecil Hunt (conga), Teddy Patterson (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone), Doug Swanigan (guitar), Phil Brines (drums) Background Funk, Inc. formed […]
Rebbie Jackson (born May 29, 1950) is an American soul singer and the eldest of the Jackson musical clan. She released four studio albums and scored R&B hits with “Plaything” and the 1984 crossover “Centipede.” Background Maureen Reillette “Rebbie” Jackson was born May 29, 1950, in Gary, Indiana, the first of ten children born to […]
J. J. Johnson (Jan. 22, 1924 — Feb. 4, 2001) was an American trombonist, composer, and arranger from Indianapolis whose catalog includes The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, J.J. Inc., and Proof Positive. He recorded with Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and Kai Winding, then moved into film scoring with the 1970s blaxploitation productions Across […]
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 […]
Phil Ranelin is an American jazz trombonist from Indianapolis who co-founded Detroit’s Tribe collective and recorded the 1970s albums A Message from the Tribe, The Time Is Now!, and Vibes from the Tribe. Background Phil Ranelin was born Phillip Arthur Ranelin on May 25, 1939, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, […]
Monk Montgomery (Oct. 10, 1921 — May 20, 1982) was an American jazz-funk bassist from Indianapolis. Montgomery joined the Lionel Hampton Orchestra in the early 1950s and became one of the first jazz musicians to record on Fender electric bass, followed by extensive work with Buddy Montgomery in the Mastersounds and with Buddy and Wes Montgomery […]
Leroy Vinnegar (July 13, 1928 — Aug. 3, 1999) was an American post-bop/jazz standup bassist on the LA studio scene. He recorded extensively with Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, Hampton Hawes, and Les McCann while also contributing to film and television sessions. Vinnegar led albums from Leroy Walks! in 1957 through later releases for […]
