Sly & The Family Stone were an American soul-funk band that released eight albums between 1967 and 1976 on Epic and charted with the generational anthems “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Hot Fun In the Summertime,” and “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin.” Sly Stone’s polyrhythmic soul-psych arrangements sparked innovations in jazz-funk. After […]
Santana are an American Latin-rock jam band from San Francisco, formed in 1966 by guitarist Carlos Santana. Their self-titled debut, released after a breakout appearance at Woodstock, fused sustained electric solos with syncopated hand percussion and thick organ layers by Gregg Rolie. Abraxas (1970) added expanded textures, drawing from Afro-Cuban rhythms and modal frameworks. The […]
George Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American jazz-funk keyboardist, composer, arranger, and producer, active from the mid-1960s through the early 2010s. During the 1970s and ’80s, he released 21 studio albums. Duke began his career as a Bay Area post-bop bandleader. After a stint with Jean-Luc Ponty, he embraced jazz-rock […]
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band from San Francisco that rose to fame during the countercultural explosion of the late 1960s. Formed in 1965 by singer Marty Balin and guitarist Paul Kantner, the group solidified its classic lineup with the arrival of vocalist Grace Slick and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, debuting nationally with Jefferson Airplane […]
Janis Joplin (Jan. 19, 1943 — Oct. 4, 1970) was an American singer who fronted Bay Area blues-rockers Big Brother & the Holding Company, best known for their 1968 album Cheap Thrills and the evergreen “Piece of My Heart.” She went solo with the 1969 Columbia release I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! […]
The Steve Miller Band are an American classic-rock band from San Francisco that released fourteen studio albums between 1968 and 1986 on Capitol Records. Guitarist and singer Steve Miller formed the band in 1966 with Boz Scaggs, who left after two albums for a solo career. Their London-recorded debut, Children of the Future, echoes the […]
The Tubes were an American rock band from San Francisco that gained notoriety for their edgy stage antics and role-play numbers. They released the 1975–79 A&M studio albums The Tubes, Young and Rich, Now, and Remote Control, then moved to Capitol for the 1981–83 albums The Completion Backward Principle and Outside Inside. Their popular songs […]
Journey are an American rock band from San Francisco, formed around former Santana members Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie. They explored spacey hard-rock and jazz-fusion instrumentals on their first three Columbia albums, released between 1975 and 1977 before the arrival of Steve Perry. The Perry/Rolie lineup gained radio traction with the 1978–80 albums Infinity, Evolution, […]
The Sons of Champlin were an American brass-rock-soul band from San Francisco, formed in 1965 by namesake vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter Bill Champlin. Originally a teen R&B combo called the Opposite Six, the group took shape as the Sons of Champlin in the wake of the British Invasion, blending soul, jazz, and rock elements […]
It’s a Beautiful Day was an American psychedelic folk band from San Francisco that released four albums between 1969 and 1973 on CBS/Columbia. Centered on classically trained violinist–vocalist David LaFlamme, they emerged from the Bay Area ballroom circuit with a soaring chamber-psych sound shaped by his electric violin, wife Linda’s organ, and Pattie Santos’ vocal […]
Al Jarreau (April 12, 1940 — Feb. 12, 2017) was an American soul and jazz singer who released eleven albums between 1975 and 1988 on Warner/Reprise. Jarreau rose to prominence with We Got By (1975) and Glow (1976), then expanded his audience through This Time (1980), Breakin’ Away (1981), and Jarreau (1983), which featured the […]
Cold Blood was an American Bay Area brass-rock band that released the 1969/70 albums Cold Blood and Sisyphus on Bill Graham’s San Francisco Records label, followed by the 1972/73 titles First Taste of Sin and Thriller! and the 1974 Warner release Lydia, named after frontwoman Lydia Pense. Members: Larry Field (guitar), Lydia Pense (vocals), Danny […]
Judee Sill (October 7, 1944 — November 23, 1979) was an American singer/songwriter from Oakland who released a 1971 self-titled album on Asylum, followed by the 1973 release Heart Food, both revered as masterworks in the 21st century. Background Judee Sill was born on October 7, 1944, in Studio City, Los Angeles. She spent her […]
Automatic Man was an American space-funk band from San Francisco that released the 1976–77 albums Automatic Man and Visitors on Island Records. Members: Bayeté (keyboards, vocals), Pat Thrall (guitar), Doni Harvey (bass), Michael Shrieve (drums) Background Automatic Man formed in 1975 in San Francisco when drummer Michael Shrieve, fresh from a lengthy Santana tenure, teamed […]
Con Funk Shun was an American soul-funk band that released eleven albums between 1976 and 1986 on Mercury. Con Funk Shun formed in Vallejo, California, and initially recorded two albums’ worth of material in Memphis around 1973, which later appeared separately on Pickwick and 51 West. They signed with Mercury in 1976, beginning a decade-long […]
The Electric Flag was an American brass-rock band that made soundtrack music for the 1967 counterculture film The Trip, followed by the 1968 Columbia albums A Long Time Comin’ and An American Music Band. Members: Nick Gravenites (vocals, guitar), Buddy Miles (drums, percussion), Mike Bloomfield (guitar, percussion, 1967-68, 1974), Barry Goldberg (keyboards, 1967, 1974), Harvey […]
Eddie Henderson (born Oct. 26, 1940) is an American trumpeter, cornetist, and composer who emerged in Herbie Hancock‘s backing band Mwandishi. On Capricorn, he released the popular 1973/74 albums Realization and Inside Out. Switching to Blue Note, he made the 1975/76 albums Sunburst and Heritage, followed by a trio of titles on Capitol, including the […]
Maze was an American soul-funk band from San Francisco that released six studio albums and two live discs between 1977 and 1986 on Capitol, several with singer Frankie Beverly suffixed to the nameplate. Members: Frankie Beverly (vocals), McKinley “Bug” Williams (percussion), Carl Wheeler (keyboards), John Smith (guitar), Larry Kimpel (bass), Robin Duhe (bass), Mike White […]
Tuxedomoon was an American art-rock band from San Francisco. They started as an avant-garde performance act in 1977 and released one single and two EPs during 1978/79. Their first two albums, Half-Mute and Desire, appeared on Ralph Records in 1980/81. After a sequence of 1982/83 titles on the Belgian Les Disques du Crépuscule, they released […]
Malo was an American Latin rock band from San Francisco that released four albums between 1972 and 1974 on Warner Bros and charted with “Suavecito.” Members: Arcelio Garcia (percussion, vocals), Jorge Santana (guitar, vocals), Abel Zarate (guitar), Pablo Tellez (bass), Richard Kermode (keyboards), Luis Gasca (trumpet), Richard Spremich (drums), Richard Bean (percussion, vocals) Background Malo […]
Metal Church was an American metal band that formed in San Francisco in 1980, then reset in Aberdeen, Wash., one year later under guitarist and principal writer Kurdt Vanderhoof. The catalog begins with the 1981 demo Red Skies, followed by the 1984 Ground Zero debut Metal Church and the Elektra albums The Dark and Blessing […]
Blue Cheer was an American hard-rock band that released six albums between 1968 and 1971 on Philips. They first recorded as a power-trio with guitarist Leigh Stephens, who plays on the 1968 albums Vincebus Eruptum and Outsideinside. The former contains an amplified cover of “Summertime Blues,” often cited as the world’s first heavy metal recording. […]
The Units were an American new wave trio from San Francisco, active from 1978 to 1984. They cut a 1979 white-label EP and the 1980 album Digital Stimulation, a classic of early synthpunk. In 1983, a reconfigured four-piece Units surfaced with the Epic EP New Way to Move and the video hit “A Girl Life […]
Hammer was an American hard-rock band from San Francisco that released a 1971 self-titled album on Atlantic. Members: John DeRoberts (vocals), Jack O’Brien (guitar), Richie McBride (bass), Norman Landsberg (keyboards), John Guerin (drums), Andy Newmark (drums) Background Hammer formed in 1969 under the guidance of Fillmore promoter Bill Graham, who placed the band on bills […]
Ju Ju was an American avant-garde jazz ensemble from San Francisco that released two albums in 1973/74 on Strata-East. They morphed into Oneness of Juju and released five further albums over the following decade. Members: J. Plunky Branch, Michael “Babatunde Olatunji” Lea (percussion), Al-Hammel Rasul [aka Tony Grayson] (piano), Jalongo Ngoma [aka Dennis Stewart] (percussion), […]
Graham Central Station was an American soul-funk band from San Francisco that released seven albums on Warner Bros. between 1974 and 1979. Members: Larry Graham (vocals, bass, guitar, clavinet, organ, piano, drums, percussion), Patryce Banks (vocals, percussion, tambourine), Hershall Kennedy (vocals, clavinet, trumpet), Robert Sam (vocals, piano, organ), David Vega (vocals, guitar), Willie Sparks (vocals, […]
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 […]
Courtial was an American jazz-funk band that released the album Don’t You Think It’s Time on Pipeline Records Inc. in 1976. Members: Bill Courtial (guitar), Errol Knowles (vocals), David “Dasher” Kempton (keyboards), Ed Williams III (bass), Geoff Whyte (drums), Jose Najera (percussion) Background Courtial was a Bay Area jazz-funk group centered on guitarist Bill Courtial […]
Sapo was an American Latin-rock/funk band from San Francisco that released a 1974 album on Bell Records. Members: Joe Bean (leader), Richard Bean (vocals, timbales), José Simón (bass, vocals), Raúl Rekow (congas, vocals), Kincaid Miller (electric piano), Oscar Estrelia (guitar, vocals), Wayne Wallace (trombone), Robby Gaviola (drums, vocals) Background In 1965, Richard Bean played saxophone […]
The Savage Resurrection was an American West Coast psych-rock band that released a 1968 self-titled album on Mercury. Their sound fused hard psych with clipped blues figures and surging, dual-guitar riff patterns, crossing Hendrix and UK freakbeat with the San Francisco ballroom acts. Members: Bill Harper (vocals), Randy Hammon (guitar), John Palmer (guitar), Steve Lage […]
The Loading Zone was an American brass-rock-soul band that released a self-titled album in 1968 on RCA Victor, followed by the private 1970 effort One for All. They launched the career of soul singer Linda Tillery, who went solo as Sweet Linda Divine. Members: Peter Shapiro (guitar, 1965-69), Steve Dowler (rhythm guitar, 1965-69), David Dougdale […]
Legs Diamond was an American hard-rock band from San Francisco that made the 1977 Mercury albums Legs Diamond and A Diamond Is a Hard Rock, followed by the 1979 Cream Records release Fire Power. They returned with the 1984–86 Target/Metronome titles Out on Bail and Land of the Gun. Members: Michael Prince (keyboards, guitar, vocals), […]
Romeo Void was an American New Wave band from San Francisco that released the EP Never Say Never and the album It’s a Condition on local-press 415 Records in 1981, followed by two albums on Columbia between 1982 and 1984. Members: Debora Iyall (vocals), Peter Woods (guitar), Benjamin Bossi (saxophone), Frank Zincavage (bass), John “Stench” […]
Leon’s Creation was an American soul-funk band from San Francisco that released the 1970 album This Is the Beginning on Studio 10, followed by a 1974 ATCO album under the shortened name Creation. Members: Leon Patillo (vocals, keyboards), Jimmy Calhoun (bass), Dennis Marcellino (saxophone, vocals), Billy Gerst (trumpet), Joe Provorst (drums), Neil Stallings (guitar, vocals), […]
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 […]
Abel was an American Latin-rock/psych band from San Francisco that released the 1971 album Please World on Fantasy Records. Members: Abel Sanchez (guitar, bass, vocals), Charles Bolds (bass), Tom Catalano (drums), Larry Chiesa (trumpet, vocals), David Spediacci (saxophone, vocals) Background Abel developed from the San Francisco band led by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Abel Sanchez. […]
Clareon was an American jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album on Villa Records in 1980. Members: Andrew Stern (electric guitarist/12-string acoustic guitarist/vocalist), Dean Groves (bassist/vocalist), Don Hunter (percussionist ), Kip Haaheim (bassist), Mark Shannon (soprano/alto/tenor saxophonist), Ron Madden (electric piano, piano, vocals) Background Clareon formed in the San Francisco Bay Area around multi-instrumentalist Ron […]
Linda Tillery (born September 2, 1948) is an American singer, percussionist, producer, arranger, and songwriter from San Francisco. She first fronted the Loading Zone, a Bay Area soul-rock band that released a 1968 album. In 1970, she went solo with the Columbia release Sweet Linda Divine. After years of session and production work, she surfaced […]
Pablo Cruise was an American harmony-pop/rock band from San Francisco that released seven albums for A&M between 1975 and 1983 and reached the US Top 10 with “Whatcha Gonna Do?” and “Love Will Find a Way.” Pablo Cruise split in the mid-1980s and later resumed activity with founding members Cory Lerios, David Jenkins, and Steve […]
Griffin was an American Bay Area metal band behind the 1984–86 albums Flight of the Griffin and Protectors of the Lair on the German Steamhammer label; Flight appeared stateside on Shrapnel Records. Members: William Rodrick McKay (vocals), Mike “Yaz” Jastremski (guitar), Rick Cooper (guitar), Thomas “Hawk” Mayberry (bass), Rick Wagner (drums) Background Griffin formed in […]
Exodus are an American metal band that emerged with the 1985 album Bonded by Blood on Torrid/Music for Nations, followed by the 1987–89 Combat albums Pleasures of the Flesh and Fabulous Disaster. They resurfaced on Capitol with the 1990–92 discs Impact Is Imminent and Force of Habit and returned with the mid-2000s titles Tempo of […]
Giants was the retroactive name for Attitude, an American Latin-funk studio group assembled in 1971 between Santana and Family Stone players. Drummer Greg Errico retained the 1972 session tracks until 1978, when the album Giants (aka San Francisco Giants) appeared on LAX Records. Members: Greg Errico, Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Jose “Chepito” Areas, […]
Death Angel was an American Bay Area metal band that self-released the 1983–85 EPs Heavy Metal Insanity and Kill as One, followed by the 1987/88 Enigma albums The Ultra-Violence and Frolic Through the Park and the 1990 Geffen title Act III. Members: Rob Cavestany (lead guitar, vocals), Andy Galeon (drums, vocals, 1982-2009), Dennis Pepa (bass, […]
Brocas Helm was an American Bay Area metal band behind the 1984 album Into Battle on Steamhammer, followed by the 1988 Gargoyle release Black Death. Members: Bobbie “Dark Rider” Wright (guitar, vocals), John Grey (guitar), Tom “T-bone” Behney (guitar), James Schumacher (bass), Jack Hays (drums) Background Brocas Helm formed in November 1982 in San Francisco […]
Sapphire was an American funk band that released a 1981 self-titled album on Quantum Records. Members: Mando Saldate (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Rick “Smiley” Malone (bass), Donny Marsh (synthesizer), Ted Wienbrener (drums), Mike McGoldrick (guitar) Background Sapphire emerged in San Francisco around Mando Saldate, a singer, keyboardist, and songwriter who graduated in 1974 from Balboa High […]
Ndikho Xaba & the Natives were an American spiritual jazz ensemble that released a 1971 album on the self-operated Trilyte Records. The band was led by South African-born musician Ndikho Xaba and included future Ju Ju/Oneness of Juju members Lon Moshe and Plunky. Members: Ndikho Xaba (piano, percussion, horn), Plunky (saxophone, vocals), Ken Shabala [aka […]
Mary McCreary (born 8 Feb. 1951) is an American soul singer who cut two singles with the Family Stone auxiliary trio Little Sister and made the 1973/74 solo albums Butterflies in Heaven and Jezebel. With husband Leon Russell, she made the 1976/77 duet albums Wedding Album and Make Love to the Music. Background Mary McCreary […]
