Weldon Irvine (Oct. 27, 1943 — April 9, 2002) was an American pianist and composer from Hampton, Va., who released two albums on self-press Nodlew Music in 1972 and 1973, followed by three albums on RCA Victor between 1974 and 1976. He studied music at Amherst College and entered professional circles as a pianist, arranger, […]
Sharon Redd (1945–1992) was an American soul-funk singer who served in Bette Midler‘s backing trio The Harlettes (1973–77) and sang on Seventies titles by Barry Manilow and Norman Connors. On Prelude, she cut the 1980–83 solo albums Sharon Redd, Red Hott, and Love How You Feel. She scored Billboard dance hits with “Can You Handle […]
Mass Production was an American soul-funk band that released eight albums on Cotillion between 1976 and 1983. Initially a ten-piece, they scored a 1979 Billboard hit with “Firecracker” and set UK dance floors alight with “Cosmic Lust,” “Shante,” and “Strollin.” They served as the backing band on the 1980 release Slipping Out by soulsters The […]
Yvonne Fair (Oct. 21, 1942 — March 6, 1994) was an American soul singer who emerged in the James Brown Revue. She released thirteen singles between 1962 and 1976 and scored R&B hits with “Funky Music Sho’ ‘Nuff Turns Me On,” “Walk Out the Door If You Wanna,” and “Love Ain’t No Toy,” all included […]
However was an American symphonic-rock band formed in 1977 by Peter Princiotto, Bobby Read, Bill Kotapish, and Joe “Stellar” Princiotto. The group released the 1981 Random Radar album Sudden Dusk and the 1985 Cuneiform followup Calling. Members: Peter Princiotto (vocals, synthesizer, piano, bass, clavinet, guitar, bass, pedals, kalimba, autoharp, bells, violin), Bobby Read (vocals, alto […]
Jade was an American soul-funk band from Virginia that released the album In Pursuit on Pesante Records in 1975. Members: Lucius I. Goodson (guitar, vocals), Vernon B. Goodson (bass, vocals), Gregory Rich (keyboards, vocals, percussion), Lorenzo Jones (alto saxophone, vocals, percussion), Larry D. Kindred (congas, percussion), Harrison Robinson II (drums, percussion, vocals) Background Jade formed […]
Poison was an American soul-funk band from Richmond, Virginia, that released the album On Our Way to Number 1 on tax-scam label Roulette in 1976. Members: Charles “Pride” Morris (guitar), Marshall “Frazell” Smith (vocals, percussion), Richard “Gino” Gillyard (saxophone, flute, vocals), Peyton “PJ” Johnson (trumpet, vocals), Melvin “Watlo” Watson (bass, vocals), Janet “Cookie” Cook (vocals, […]
Anglo-Saxon Brown was an American soul-funk band that released the 1976 Atlantic album Songs for Evolution. The members cut four earlier singles as Ujima and later made another album as Silk. Members: Debra Henry (vocals), Dwight Smith (keyboards, vocals), Clemente Burnette (vocals, guitar), Tyrone Durham (drums), Alvin Brown (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone), Charles Manns (saxophone), Carlton […]
Stu Gardner is an American R&B singer, musician, and composer who led the First Cosins Jazz Ensemble. Between 1968 and 1974 he released three solo albums, including one under the psuedonym Big Mouth. Background Stu Gardner was born Stuart Lavert Leonard Gardner and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. At Maggie L. Walker High School, violinist […]
Kill Devil were an American rustic-rock band from Merrifield, Virginia, that issued the 1977 private-press album Kill Devil. Members: Stuart McArthur (vocals, keyboards, guitar, harmonica), Denis Desloge (guitar), Rod Cannon (drums), Jim Stafford (bass), Rob Whyte (vocals, guitar), Ray Richardson (vocals, guitar) Background Kill Devil formed in Merrifield with singer–multi-instrumentalist Stuart McArthur, guitarists Denis Desloge, […]
The Southern Energy Ensemble was an American jazz-funk student band that made one album, Southern Energy, recorded in 1976 and later released on Black Fire. Members: Nat Lee (keyboards), Judy Spears (vocals), Muzi Branch (bass), Ronnie Toler (drums) Background Southern Energy Ensemble formed in Richmond around trumpeter Marvin “Dash” Daniels and a large student-based lineup […]
General Johnson (May 23, 1943 — Oct. 13, 2010) was an American soul singer from Huntersville, Va., primarily known as the featured vocalist in Chairmen of the Board. In 1972, he released the punningly titled Generally Speaking on Invictus Records, followed by a 1976 self-titled album on Arista. Background General Johnson was born Norman Earl […]
Child’s Play was an American jazz-rock band behind a 1979 self-titled album on Moonlight Records. Members: Bruce Ford-Fyffe (piano), Muddd (guitar, ARP synthesizer), Richard Lumpkin (bass), Merrill Reese (drums) Profile Child’s Play emerged in Richmond, Virginia, around pianist Bruce Ford-Fyffe. The group included bassist Richard Lumpkin, drummer Merrill Reese, and multi-instrumentalist Muddd, who straddled guitar […]
