Freddie Hubbard (1938–2008) was an American jazz trumpeter who released seven post-bop albums on Blue Note (1960–67), followed by stints on Atlantic (1967–70), CTI (1970–74), and Columbia (1974–77). He went electric on the 1970–71 albums The Black Angel, Red Clay, and Straight Life and embraced jazz-funk on the 1974–76 titles High Energy, Liquid Love, and […]
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 […]
The Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign was an American funk band that released the album Reach for It on UNI Records in 1973, followed by Watchin’ You, Watchin’ Me on Chi Sound in 1976. Members: John Jackson (keyboards), Lester Johnson (bass), Matthew Watson (drums), Michael Woods (keyboards, trombone), Pamela Tanner (vocals), Robert Townsend (guitar), Tony Roberts […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
