Johnny Hammond (aka Johnny Smith, Dec. 16, 1933 — June 4, 1997) was an American jazz keyboardist who debuted in 1958 with a solo organ album as Johnny Smith. Adopting the name Johnny “Hammond” Smith, he released three soul-jazz albums on Prestige-subsidiary New Jazz in 1959/60, then switched to Prestige for 16 further albums between […]
Les McCann (September 23, 1935 – December 29, 2023) was an American jazz pianist and singer. He emerged on Pacific Jazz Records with the 1960/61 albums Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Truth, Les McCann Ltd. in San Francisco, and Les McCann Sings. His records blended energetic trio performances with gospel-inflected vocals. He expanded his reputation […]
Midnight Star was an American soul-funk band from Frankfort, Kentucky, that recorded eight albums for Solar between The Beginning in 1980 and Work It Out in 1990. Their breakout came with No Parking on the Dance Floor in 1983, which produced “Freak-A-Zoid,” “Wet My Whistle,” and “Slow Jam.” They followed with Planetary Invasion and the […]
Pre was an American symphonic-rock band, active circa 1973 in Kentucky. They recorded an album’s worth of material that appeared 21 years later courtesy of archivists ZNR. Members: Alfred Collinsworth (lead and backing vocals, twelve-string guitars), Larry Collinsworth (electric, bowed, and acoustic guitars; backing vocals), Brian E. Paulson (Hammond organ, electric piano, grand piano, Minimoog), […]
Easter Island was an American symphonic-rock band that released a 1979 eponymous album on self-press Baal. Members: Rick Bartlett (vocals), Park Crain (bass, pedals, percussion), Mark Miceli (guitars, synthesizer, vocals), Richard Streander (guitars, vocals), Bob Chapman (drums), Mark Hendricks (drums), Ray Vogel (Hammond organ, MiniMoog, piano, Mellotron) Background Easter Island formed in Louisville, Ky., in […]
Horacee Arnold (born Sept. 25, 1937) is an American jazz-funk drummer, composer, and bandleader from Wayland, Ky. He worked with Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bud Powell, Hugh Masekela, and Miriam Makeba, then joined Chick Corea’s original Return to Forever lineup and the Stan Getz Quartet. Arnold led the 1973/74 Columbia albums Tribe and Tales […]
