The 3 Pieces were an American jazz-funk/soul trio that released the album Vibes of Truth on Fantasy in 1975. Members: Andre Richardson (congas, percussion), Lincoln Ross (keyboards, trombone), Jerry Wilder (bass, lead vocals) The 3 Pieces coalesced in Washington D.C. around the talents of trombonist/keyboardist Lincoln Ross, bassist Jerry Wilder, and percussionist Andre Richardson. Ross […]
The Dynamic Superiors were an American soul group from Washington, D.C., that released four albums on Tamla/Motown between 1975 and 1977. Members: George Spann (first tenor vocals), Tony Washington (lead vocals, 1963-80), Maurice Washington (bass vocals, 1963-80), George Wesley Peterback, Jr. (second tenor vocals, 1963-80), Michael McCalpin (baritone vocals, 1963-80) Discography: The Dynamic Superiors (1975) […]
Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 — April 1, 1984) was an American R&B vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Washington, D.C., who was musically active for a quarter-century, achieving worldwide renown as one of Tamla/Motown’s leading performers. He first rose to fame with a string of duets, first with Kim Weston and then with Tammi Terrell, […]
Oneness of Juju were an American spiritual-jazz/funk band from Washington, D.C., that grew out of Ju Ju. Discography: African Rhythms (1975) Space Jungle Luv (1976) Bush Brothers & Space Rangers (1977) Every Way but Loose (1982 • Plunky & the Oneness of Juju) Electric Juju Nation (1984)
Angel were an American hard-rock band from Washington, D.C., that released five studio albums and a live double-LP on Casablanca between 1975 and 1980. Members: Barry Brandt (drums), Gregg Giuffria (keyboards, 1975-81), Frank DiMino (lead vocals, 1975-80, 1998-present), Punky Meadows (guitar, 1975-80), Mickie Jones (bass, 1975-77), Felix Robinson (bass, 1978-81), Fergie Frederiksen (lead vocals, 1981), […]
Chainsaw Jazz was an American jazz-rock band that released the album DisConcerto on Cuneiform in 1993. Members: Mark Stanley (guitar), Christian Nagle (guitar), Mark Smoot (bass), Mark Gilbert (saxophone, clarinet), Ed Maguire (violin, electric mandolin), Paul Sears (drums) DisConcerto was released on Cuneiform Records (cat# RUNE 46) in 1993. It features 15 songs and a […]
The Muffins were an American avant-jazz/rock band that released two proper albums on Random Radar between 1978 and 1981. Members: David Newhouse (piano, organ, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, percussion), Billy Swann (bass, guitar, percussion, vocals), Michael Zentner (guitar, violin, 1973-76), Tom Scott (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto clarinet, soprano clarinet, oboe, bassoon, cantor, […]
Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers were an American soul-funk band from Washington, DC, that released two albums on Source Records during 1979 and 1980, followed by a later round of activity that yielded two 1984 singles on T.T.E.D. Records and three 1986–88 live releases on Future, Flame, and Fun House. In a prior incarnation, […]
Osiris were an American soul-funk band Washington, DC, that released their first and third albums — Since Before Our Time (1978) and Osiris the Band! (1980) — on Tom Dog/Warner, bisected by the 1979 release O-Zone on Marlin. In 1986, the nameplate was resurrected for a fourth album on Baad! Records. Members: Osiris Marsh (vocals), […]
Cherry People were an American pop-psych/bubblegum band that released a self-titled album on Heritage in 1968, scoring a minor hit with “And Suddenly” (originally by The Left Banke). Guitarist Punky Meadows later surfaced in pomp-rockers Angel. Members: Doug Grimes (vocals, harmonica, percussion), Chris Grimes (guitar, vocals), David Alves, Punky Meadows (guitar), Rocky Isaac (drums, ?-1972), […]
Mars Everywhere were an American avant-rock/electronic band from Washington, DC, that debuted with the track “Attack of the Giant Squid” on the 1977 multi-artist release A Random Sampler on Random Radar Records, which issued the band’s singular album Industrial Sabotage in 1980. Members: Ernie Falcone (guitar, electronics), Tom Fenwick (synthesizer, 1976-79), Barney Jones (guitar, organ, […]
The Urban Verbs were an American New Wave band from Washington, DC, that released two albums on Warner Bros. in 1980/81. Vocalist Roddy Frantz is the brother of Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz. Members: Roddy Frantz (vocals), Robert Goldstein (guitar), Linda France (piano, bass), Robin Rose (synthesizer), Danny Frankel (drums, percussion) Discography: Urban Verbs (1980) […]
The Soul Searchers were an American soul-funk band from Washington, D.C., that released two albums on Sussex between 1972 and 1974. Two further albums appeared at decade’s end with guitarist/vocalist Chuck Brown’s name promoted to featured status. Members: Charles “Chuck” Brown (guitar, vocals), John Buchannan Jr. (trombone, piano), Lino Driutt (percussion), Hilton Selton Jr. (organ), […]
Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul were an American jazz-funk/soul septet from Washington, D.C., that released a self-titled album on GSF in 1973, followed by a string of mid-decade singles on Mercury. Members: Joe Quarterman (trumpet, vocals), George R. Lee (guitar), Gregory C. Hammonds (bass), Allen Stewart (drums), Willie Parker, Jr. (guitar), Karissa Freeman (keyboards), […]
Vernon Burch (born 1957) is an American soul singer from Washington, DC. Discography: I’ll Be Your Sunshine (1975) When I Get Back Home (1977) Love-a-Thon (1978) Get Up (1979) Steppin’ Out (1980) Playing Hard to Get (1982)
The Fuzz was an American soul group from Washington, DC. Members: Sheila Young (vocals), Barbara Gilliam [aka Roberta Gilliam] (vocals), Val Williams (vocals) Discography: The Fuzz (1971)
Peaches & Herb were an American soul duo from Washington, DC. Members: Herb Fame (vocals), Francine Barker (vocals, 1965-67), Marlene Mack (vocals, 1967-70), Linda Greene (vocals, 1976-83) Discography: For Your Love (1967) Let’s Fall in Love (1967) Golden Duets (1968) Peaches & Herb (1977) 2 Hot! (1978) Twice the Fire (1979) Worth the Wait (1980) […]
The True Reflection were an American soul group from Washington, DC. Members: Glenn Leonard, Joe Blunt, Bobby Cox, Joey Coleman Discography: Where I’m Coming From (1973)
William DeVaughn (born Nov. 28, 1947) is an American soul singer from Washington, DC. Discography: Be Thankful for What You Got (1974) Figures Can’t Calculate (1980)
Amii Stewart — aka Amy Paulette Stewart (born Jan. 29, 1956) — is an American soul singer from Washington, DC. Discography: Knock on Wood (1979) Paradise Bird (1979) Images (1981) Amii Stewart (1983) Try Love (1984) Amii (1986) Time for Fantasy (1988) Pearls: Amii Stewart Sings Ennio Morricone (1990)
Ronnie Dyson (1950–1990) was an American soul singer and actor who released five albums between 1970 and 1979 on Columbia and two further albums in 1982–83 on Cotillion. He scored three Billboard R&B Top 10 hits: “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” “(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can’t I Touch You?” (both […]
The South Shore Commission were an American soul-funk band from Washington, D.C., that released a standalone single on Atlantic in 1970, followed by a self-titled album on Wand in 1975. Members: Warren Harding Hagood II (drums), Sidney Lanier Pinchback II (guitar), David Thomas Henderson (bass), David Abner Scott (vocals), Armed Allen McIntosh (trumpet, saxophone), Joe […]
Experience Unlimited were an American funk band from Washington, D.C, that released the album Free Yourself on Black Fire in 1976. Small-press go-go releases were issued sporadically under the nameplate from 1982-onward. Members: Gregory “Sugar Bear” Eliot, Ivan Goff, Ju Ju House Discography: Free Yourself (1976)
The Blackbyrds were an American soul-funk band from Washington, D.C., named after the 1973 album by trumpeter and band-mentor Donald Byrd, who taught the members at Howard University. The band released six proper albums and a soundtrack recording on Fantasy between 1974 and 1980. Members: Kevin Toney (piano, synthesizer, vocals), Keith Killgo (drums, percussion, vocals), […]
The Best of Both Worlds were an American soul-funk band from Washington, D.C., that released the album I Want the World to Know on Calla Records in 1975. The band shortened its name to Both Worlds for the sophomoric Don’tcha Hide It, released on TPI Records in 1977. Members: Winfield Parker (lead vocals), James Gallon […]
