Kool & The Gang were an American soul-funk band from Jersey City that released nineteen albums on De-Lite Records between 1970 and 1986. In their early years, Kool & the Gang blended tight rhythms and punchy brass, defined by songs like “Kool’s Back” and “Funky Stuff.” Bassist Robert “Kool” Bell provided the anchor, while saxophonist […]
Fireballet was an American symphonic/art-rock band from New Jersey that made the 1975/76 albums Night on Bald Mountain and Two, Too on Passport Records. Multi-instrumentalist and composer Jim Cuomo hailed from Spoils of War and Mormos and later played in the multi-national jazz-funk group Pacific Eardrum. Cuomo and guitarist Ryche Chlanda partook in the 1977 […]
The Rascals were an American pop-rock band that released seven albums between 1966 and 1971 on Atlantic. On their first three albums, they’re billed as The Young Rascals. They are best known for the AM radio evergreens “How Can I Be Sure?,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “A Girl Like You,” and the 1966–68 Billboard No. 1’s […]
David Sancious is an American keyboardist, guitarist, composer, and arranger who led jazz-rockers Tone on the 1975/76 Epic albums Forest of Feelings and Transformation (The Speed of Love). After the 1977 recording Dance of the Age of Enlightenment, he issued three further albums on Arista. Background Sancious was born on November 30, 1953, in Long […]
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer whose recording career began with a 1965 Jocida single and expanded through MGM, Polydor, Atlantic, Silver Blue, and Stylus releases. She reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “I Will Survive” and placed “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “I Am What I Am” in the Top […]
Woody Shaw (December 24, 1944 — May 10, 1989) was an American trumpeter and composer. He recorded as a leader from 1970 to 1987, issuing albums for Contemporary, Muse, and Columbia, including Blackstone Legacy, Rosewood, and Stepping Stones. His sideman work spanned sessions with Eric Dolphy, Horace Silver, Larry Young, McCoy Tyner, and Dexter Gordon. […]
Nona Hendryx (born Oct. 9, 1944) is an American soul singer who emerged as one-third of funk legends Labelle. As a solo artist, she rose with the 1983–85 albums Nona, The Art of Defense, and The Heat, landing R&B/club hits with “Keep It Confidential” and “B-Boys.” She collaborated during this period with Material, Keith Richards, […]
Instant Funk was an American soul-funk band that released the 1976 TSOP album Get Down With the Philly Jump, followed by six albums between 1979 and 1983 on Salsoul Records. They scored R&B hits with “Bodyshine,” “Witch Doctor,” “No Stoppin’ That Rockin’,” “It Ain’t Reggae (But It Sho Is Funky),” and “I Got My Mind […]
Harvey Mason is an American drummer, producer, and composer who played on Seventies jazz-funk albums by Bobbi Humphrey, Charles Earland, Donald Byrd, Gene Harris, and Herbie Hancock. As a bandleader, Mason cut five albums between 1975 and 1981 on Arista. Background Harvey Mason was born on February 22, 1947, in Atlantic City. He played drums […]
Omnibus was an American psych-rock band from New Jersey that released a 1970 self-titled album on United Artists. Members: Robert “Bob” Wegrzyn (vocals), Joseph “Jay” Polt (guitar), Al Raimondi (keyboards), Robert “Bob” Marcinczak (bass), and Jerry Garino (drums), Don Cardinali (percussion) Background Omnibus hailed from New Milford, NJ, where singer/songwriter Robert “Bob” Wegrzyn teamed with […]
Dean Friedman is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from New Jersey who released three albums between 1977 and 1981. He scored a US Top 40 hit with “Ariel” and a UK Top 3 hit with “Lucky Stars.” Between 1999 and 2021, he self-produced six albums on Real Life Records. Background Dean Friedman was born […]
Overkill is an American metal band from Old Bridge, N.J., that formed in 1980 and built its first run through the Megaforce and Atlantic albums Feel the Fire, Taking Over, Under the Influence, The Years of Decay, Horrorscope, I Hear Black, and W.F.O. between 1985 and 1994. The group continued on CMC, Metal-Is, Spitfire, Regain, […]
Executive Suite was an American soul group from Camden, NJ, that released the 1974 album Executive Suite 1. Members: Henry Tuten, Billy Tyler, Charles Conyers, Vincent Unto Background Executive Suite formed in Camden, New Jersey, in 1969 as the Millionaires with singers Henry Tuten, Billy Tyler, Charles Conyers, and Vincent Unto. The Millionaires recorded “A […]
The Ebonys were an American soul group that released eight singles and a 1973 album on Philadelphia International Records, scoring R&B hits with “It’s Forever” and “I Believe.” In 1976, they reappeared with the Buddah album Sing About Life and the single “Makin’ Love Ain’t No Fun (Without the One You Love) (Part 1).” Members: […]
Gwen Guthrie (July 14, 1950 — Feb. 3, 1999) was an American soul singer from Okemah, Oklahoma, who built her early career in New York session work. Guthrie co-wrote songs for Ben E. King (“Supernatural Thing,” “Do It in the Name of Love”) and Angela Bofill (“This Time I’ll Be Sweeter”), with later cuts by […]
Family Circle was an American soul group from Newark that released a 1973 self-titled album on Sky Disc, followed in 1977 with Love Bound on Strawberry Records. Members: Charles Simmons, David Simmons, Don Simmons, James Simmons, Mary Simmons Background Family Circle formed in Newark, New Jersey, as a Simmons-family vocal group led by keyboardist and […]
Ingram was an American soul-funk sextet that consisted of a namesake brother/sister musical clan from Camden, N.J. They debuted as The Ingram Kingdom with a 1976 self-titled album, followed in 1977 with That’s All, their first mononymic release. The siblings linked with members of Fat Larry’s Band for a pair of 1979/80 albums as Philly […]
The 1619 Bad Ass Band was an American soul-funk sextet from New Jersey that released a standalone single on Chess/Brown Sugar in 1973, followed by a self-titled album on the tax-scam TSG label in 1976. Members: Khalid Abdul Shalid (Piano), Karl A. Harris (Bass), Phyllis (Phyliss), Harris (Vocalist), Ogden Lee, Jr. (Guitar), Ernie (Drums) Background […]
Roger Glenn is an American jazz-funk flutist and vibraphone player from NYC who released the 1976 album Reachin’ on Fantasy Records. Background Roger Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in Englewood, New Jersey. His father, trombonist and vibraphonist Tyree Glenn, worked with Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. Tyree Glenn later joined […]
The Rimshots were an American funk band that recorded the original theme to the syndicated music-dance TV series Soul Train in 1971. After two singles and an album on A-I Records in 1972, the band released four singles on All Platinum/Astroscope in 1974, followed by a three-single/one-album run on Stang Records between 1975 and 1976. […]
The Escorts were an American soul group from New Jersey, formed by Rahway State Prison inmates. They mobile-recorded the 1973/74 albums All We Need Is Another Chance and 3 Down 4 to Go, scoring R&B hits with “Look Over Your Shoulder,” “Disrespect Can Wreck,” and “Let’s Make Love (At Home Sometime).” Members: La’Grant Carlos Harris, Reginald […]
Quazar was an American funk band that released a 1978 self-titled album on Arista. Singer Kevin Goins formed the group from the local ten-piece Eclipse. Drummer Jerome Brailey followed with Mutiny. Members: Darryl Deliberto, Darryl Dixon, Eugene “Moochie” Jackson, Glen Goins, Greg Fitz, Harvey Banks, Jeff Adams, Kevin Goins, Lady Peachena, Monica Peters, Richard “Shaidi” […]
Fiona Flanagan is an American hard-rock singer who debuted with the 1985 Atlantic release Fiona, which spawned the MTV hit “Talk to Me.” She followed with the 1986 album Beyond the Pale and appeared in the 1987 Bob Dylan musical drama Hearts of Fire. On her 1989 third album Heart Like a Gun, she dueted […]
Don Sebesky (born Dec. 19, 1937) is an American jazz trombonist, keyboardist, and arranger from Perth Amboy, NJ. He played in the Maynard Ferguson and Stan Kenton orchestras, then became a principal arranger for producer Creed Taylor on recordings by Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Astrud Gilberto, Freddie Hubbard, and other Verve, A&M, and CTI artists. […]
Whiplash was an American metal band that struck with the 1986 Roadracer release Power and Pain, followed by the 1987–89 titles Ticket to Mayhem and Insult to Injury. Members: Tony Portaro (guitar, vocals), Tony Scaglione (drums, 1983-87, 1996, 1998-99, 2010-11), Mike Orosz (vocals, 1984), Pat Burns (bass, 1984), Rob Harding (bass, 1984), Tony Bono (bass, 1985-93, 1998-99), Joe […]
Rhyze was an American soul-funk band from Jersey City that released the 1980 album Just How Sweet Is Your Love on Sam Records, followed in 1981 with Rhyze to the Top on 20th Century Fox. Members: Roscoe Taylor (lead vocals, trumpet), Elisworth “EI-T” Anderson (lead vocals, bass), Vince Jackson (guitar, lead vocals), Charles Holmes (drums), […]
Young & Company were an American soul-funk band from New Jersey that released the 1980 album I Like (What You’re Doing to Me) on Brunswick Records, followed by a string of singles on assorted labels during the ensuing five-year period, including one under the name Joy. The band comprised the singing/production team of brothers William, […]
Sunrize was an American soul-funk band that released a 1982 self-titled album on the Boardwalk Entertainment Co. Members: David Townsend (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Everett Collins (drums, keyboards, vocals), Kevin Jones (congas, percussion), Ronnie Scruggs (lead vocals, keyboards), Tony Herbert (bass) Background Sunrize formed around 1981 on the East Coast when drummer-vocalist Everett […]
Minority Band was an American soul-funk septet from New Jersey that released the 1980 album Journey to the Shore on self-press JSR. Members: Chris Miller (lead vocals, guitar), Cliff Mancle (keyboards, backing vocals), David Peek (trombone, lead vocals), Fredreick King (trumpet, backing vocals), James Stevens (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, backing vocals), Rich Echols (bass), […]
Whitney Houston (Aug. 9, 1963 — Feb. 11, 2012) was an American soul-pop singer and actress. She released seven studio albums between 1985 and 2009 and placed 11 singles at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, including a record seven consecutive chart-toppers. Her major hits include “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will […]
Sarah Dash (August 18, 1945 – September 20, 2021) was an American soul singer who emerged as one-third of the soul-funk vocal trio Labelle. She went solo in 1978 and made four albums through 1988, scoring R&B/dance hits with “Sinner Man,” “(Come and Take) This Candy from Your Baby,” and “Lucky Tonight.” Background Sarah Dash […]
Platinum Hook was an American soul-funk band behind the 1978/79 Motown albums Platinum Hook and It’s Time, followed by the 1983 RCA release Watching You. Members: Stephen Daniels (drums, percussion, vocals), Tina Renee Stanford (percussion, vocals), Robert Douglas (keyboards, backing vocals), Elisha “Skipp” Ingram (bass, backing vocals), Victor Jones (guitar, backing vocals), Robin David Corley […]
Joseph Samuel Thomas (May 31, 1933 — July 26, 2017) was an American jazz-funk flutist and saxophonist from Newark, New Jersey. Thomas first recorded with organist Rhoda Scott in the early 1960s and subsequently led albums that ranged from soul-jazz to the funk-oriented recordings of the 1970s. Background Joseph Samuel Thomas was born on May […]
Calender was an American soul-funk band from New Jersey that released the 1976 album It’s a Monster on Pi Kappa Records. Members: Donna Ahjuder, Gerald Fair, Hurlie Hannet Fair, John Barbee, Michael Barbee, Stanley Barnett Haygood, William Jones Background Calender formed in New Jersey by 1975 under songwriter-producer Paul L. Kyser. The seven-piece comprised drummer […]
Bernie Worrell (April 19, 1944 — June 24, 2016) was an American funk keyboardist, composer, and arranger with lengthy Seventies tenures in Funkadelic, Parliament, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band, followed by Eighties stints with Material and the Golden Palominos. As a solo artist, he made the 1978 Arista album All the Woo in the World. Background […]
