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. Gaye rose to fame with a string of duets, first with Kim Weston and then with Tammi Terrell, his […]
The Muffins were an American jazz-rock band that released two proper albums: the Canterbury-style Manna / Mirage (1978) and the No Wave-inspired 185, both on the avant-garde DC label Random Radar Records. Tracks from their earlier incarnation (circa 1975–76) later surfaced on the Cuneiform CD Chronometers. They backed Fred Frith on his 1980 Ralph Records […]
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. They released six albums and a soundtrack between 1974 and 1980 on Fantasy Records. Members: Kevin Toney (piano, synthesizer, vocals), Keith Killgo (drums, percussion, vocals), Joe Hall […]
Oneness of Juju was an American spiritual-jazz/funk band from Washington, D.C., that grew out of Ju Ju. Background Oneness of Juju evolved from Ju Ju, an avant-garde jazz sextet that released the 1973/74 albums A Message From Mozambique and Chapter 2 Nia on Strata-East. Saxophonist James “Plunky Nkabinde” Branch formed Ju Ju in San Francisco, […]
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 […]
Vernon Burch (1955–2022) was an American soul singer and songwriter, best known for the Billboard R&B hits “Changes (Messin’ with My Mind)” and “Do It to Me.” Between 1975 and 1981, he made six albums and produced records by Lea Roberts, Eric Mercury, and Albert King. Background He was born Vernon Darrell Burch on July […]
Angel was an American hard-rock band from Washington D.C. that released five studio albums and a live double-LP between 1975 and 1980 on Casablanca. 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), […]
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 […]
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) Background The Dynamic Superiors formed […]
The Soul Searchers were an American soul-funk band from Washington, D.C., that released the 1972–74 Sussex albums We the People and Salt of the Earth. In 1979, frontman Chuck Brown assembled a new lineup for the Source Records titles Bustin’ Loose and Funk Express. Members: Charles “Chuck” Brown (guitar, vocals), John Buchannan Jr. (trombone, piano), […]
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), […]
Michael Bass is an American avant-jazz/rock musician and composer who released the 1978/79 albums Parchesi Pie and Painting by Numbers on Random Radar. Background Michael Bass emerged in 1975 on the Maryland/Washington D.C., avant-jazz/rock circuit. He played drums, xylophone, and acoustic piano with The Muffins during an early lineup with keyboard–reedist Dave Newhouse, reedist Tom […]
Amii Stewart is an American soul singer who had a 1979 disco No. 1 with a remake of the Eddie Floyd classic “Knock On Wood.” Abroad, she scored subsequent hits with the Doors appropriation “Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven” and the 1985 Italian hit “Friends.” Between 1979 and 1990, she made three albums on Hansa/Ariola […]
William DeVaughn (born Nov. 28, 1947) is an American soul singer from Washington, DC, who released the 1974 album Be Thankful for What You Got, scoring hits with the title track and “Blood Is Thicker Than Water.” He returned in 1980 with Figures Can’t Calculate. Background William DeVaughn was born William Edward DeVaughn Jr. on […]
Malone & Barnes and Spontaneous Simplicity were an American jazz-funk/soul duo/band combo from Washington, D.C., built around singer-keyboardist Johnny Malone and reedist Allan Barnes. The act released one album, Freedom Serenade, in 1977 on Humpin’ International. Members: Johnny Malone (lead vocals, piano, clavinet, synthesizer), Allan Barnes (afro horns, clarinet, flute, piano, synthesizer). Background Malone met […]
The South Shore Commission was an American soul-funk band from Washington, D.C., that released the 1970 single “Right On Brother, followed by a 1975 self-titled album. 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 Hudson (saxophone), Melvin Moore […]
Experience Unlimited was an American funk band from Washington, D.C, that released the 1976 album Free Yourself on Black Fire. Small-press go-go titles appeared sporadically under the nameplate from 1982-onward. Members: Gregory “Sugar Bear” Eliot, Ivan Goff, Ju Ju House Background Experience Unlimited took shape in Southeast Washington, D.C., by 1973 after bassist Gregory “Sugar […]
The True Reflection was an American soul group from Washington, DC, that released the 1973 Atco album Where I’m Coming From. Members: Glenn Leonard, Joe Blunt, Bobby Cox, Joey Coleman Background The True Reflection formed by 1972 in Washington, D.C., as a soul vocal quartet with Joe Blunt, Glenn Leonard, Joe Coleman, and Bobby Cox. […]
Mars Everywhere was 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 1980 singular album Industrial Sabotage. Audiofile Tapes archived the founding trio on the 1989 cassette Visitor Parking. Members: Barney […]
Osiris was 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), […]
The Fuzz was an American soul group from Washington, D.C., that released a 1971 album on Calla Records. Members: Sheila Young (vocals), Barbara Gilliam [aka Roberta Gilliam] (vocals), Val Williams (vocals) Background The Fuzz formed in Washington, D.C., around vocalists Sheila Young, Barbara Gilliam, and Val Williams. Gilliam also appears in credits as Roberta Gilliam. […]
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), […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Wax was an American soul-funk septet that released the 1980/81 RCA albums Wax Attack and Do You Believe in Magic. Members: Joseph Lattisaw, Jr. (guitar, vocals), Bennie Melton, Jr. (vocals, synthesizer), James Claggett, Jr. (keyboards), David Searles (percussion), Ronnie Kidd (bass), Steve Wagner (drums), Charles Moritt (saxophone) Background Wax emerged in Washington, D.C., where singer-synthesist […]
The Urban Verbs were an American new wave band from Washington, DC, that released the 1980/81 Warner albums Urban Verbs and Early Damage. Singer 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) Background Urban Verbs […]
Gayle Adams is an American soul singer who released two albums on Prelude Records and scored dance hits with “Stretch’in Out” and “Love Fever.” Background Gayle Adams was born on Jan. 5, 1952, in Washington, D.C. She graduated with the 1970 class at Eastern High School. Adams worked as a stand-up comedian and briefly raced […]
Peaches & Herb were an American soul duo formed in Washington, DC, by singers Herb Fame and Francine “Peaches” Hurd. The duo first reached the charts with “Let’s Fall in Love” and followed with a run of Date Records singles through the late 1960s. Fame revived the name with later Peaches singers and scored the […]
