Showing 1 - 19 of 19
Artist: Pirly Zurstrassen
In addition to being an accomplished jazz pianist, Pirly Zurstrassen is also a Professor of jazz piano, harmonic dictation, and reading interpretation at the Royal Brussels Conservatory (since October 1990). Almost entirely self-taught, Zurstrassen was awarded a Saxe award by the Belgian Jazz Press in December 1988 for his CD H. Further releases... [+] Read More
Artist: H Septet
The Belgian jazz group H Septet performs classy, upbeat originals written by pianist/composer Pirly Zurstrassen, who formed the band in 1987. The other six members are clarinetist Antoine Prawerman, saxophonists Pierre Vaiana and Daniel Stokart, trombonist Jean-Paul Danhier, bassist Piet Verbist, and drummer Jan De Haas. The musicians are all... [+] Read More
Artist: The Three Degrees
Philly soul vocal group the Three Degrees started in 1963 in Philadelphia, PA. They were discovered by producer and songwriter Richard Barrett. Barrett was a key force for 1950s groups the Chantels, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and his own group the Valentines. The original lineup was Fayette Pickney, Shirley... [+] Read More
Artist: Bunny Sigler
Born in Philadelphia into the family of Henry and Susie May Sigler, as a child, little Walter Sigler would walk around singing and making up lyrics and choruses to songs. Walter Sigler became Bunny Sigler when as an infant his mother discovered that he had a fully grown front tooth. She commented that he looked just like a bunny rabbit and the... [+] Read More
Artist: Blue Sandlewood Soap
From the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Blue Sandlewood Soap was one of relatively few '60s psychedelic groups from the region (though there were others, such as C.A. Quintet and, on some of their records, the Litter and T.C. Atlantic). They issued just one single, "Friends I Haven't Yet Met"/"Love !pirT" (sic), though that 45, plus a good deal of... [+] Read More
Artist: Dexter Wansel
Keyboardist/arranger/producer/recording artist Dexter Wansel can be heard throughout the catalog of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records. His skills can be heard on non-PIR sides like Jermaine Jackson's "Where Are You Now" from his gold LP Let's Get Serious and "Tonight" from Junior's Acquired Taste LP. His frequent... [+] Read More
Artist: Jean-Pierre Catoul
Jean-Pierre Catoul is one of the few modern violinists to merge jazz together with rock music. First picking up the instrument at the age of six (and learning music theory shortly thereafter), Catoul played in a variety of bands during the '80s (jazz, rock, and even big bands), but it wasn't until 1987 that Catoul fully began to realize his... [+] Read More
Artist: Latif Bolat
The musical traditions of Turkey have been brought to the United States by Berkeley, California-based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and folklorist Latif Bolat. A teacher at the Mendocino Middle Eastern Music camp and Honolulu Music And Dance Camp, Bolat is the director of the Latif Bolat Turkish Music Ensemble of San Francisco and the musical... [+] Read More
Artist: Earl Young
Philly soul drummer Earl Young kept the beat on countless hits coming out of the City of Brotherly Love during the '60s, '70s, and mid-'80s. As one-third of the classic Baker-Harris-Young rhythm section that included bassist Ron Baker and guitarist Norman Harris, Young played on hits by the Intruders, the O'Jays, Barbara Mason, Teddy... [+] Read More
Artist: James Carmichael
James Carmichael sang lead vocals on Instant Funk's 1979 million-selling single "I Got My Mind Made Up." Carmichael -- not to be confused with James Anthony Carmichael, the arranger/producer best known for hits by the Commodores and the group's former lead singer Lionel Richie -- also sang lead on the group's other favorites: "No Stoppin' That... [+] Read More
Artist: Dee Dee Sharp
Dee Dee Sharp hit the biggest with her first record for the Cameo/Parkway label, a blessing that pigeonholed the Philly songstress as a teenybopper forever to be identified with her number one smash from 1962, "Mashed Potatoes Time." Living in Philadelphia, the home of Dick Clark's American Bandstand helped her career; she appeared on the... [+] Read More
Artist: Johnny Williams
Hard-singing soul/blues singer Johnny Williams' biggest hit was "Slow Motion, Pt.1," a 1972 Top Ten R&B single for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. He also recorded sides for Epic and Chicago Soul producer Carl Davis' Dakar subsidiary, Bashie.
Born Johnny Lee Williams on January 15, 1942, in Tyler, AL, he moved to Chicago in... [+] Read More
Artist: T. Life
Producer/songwriter/guitarist/vocalist T. Life's biggest hit was Evelyn "Champagne" King's 1978 million-selling single "Shame." The track was used as the opening theme for Keenan Ivory Wayans' 1994 movie Low Down Dirty Shame (Touchstone Home Video) and was included on the 1998 RCA movie soundtrack CD More Monty. Sometimes credited as T. Life or... [+] Read More
Artist: Instant Funk
Instant Funk burst on the '70s disco scene with the million-selling single "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)" and the gold album Instant Funk. The Trenton, NJ, band started out with the core lineup of bassist Raymond Earl, drummer Scotty Miller, and guitarist Kim Miller. It later expanded to include keyboardist Dennis Richardson; lead... [+] Read More
Artist: Eddie LeVert
Eddie Levert sang lead on classic million-selling hits by Philly soul group the O'Jays. They were a part of the artist roster of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records. Levert could handle both emotion-soaked ballads, sweat-inducing dance numbers, and thought-provoking message songs with equal aplomb. The singer also... [+] Read More
Artist: Vince Montana
With over 25 gold and platinum album awards, Vincent Montana, Jr. is truly a musical success story. During the '70s and '80s, the multi-talented composer/arranger/conductor/percussionist/bandleader and renowned vibraharpist was a member of MFSB, the studio house band for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records (PIR), and later founded... [+] Read More
Artist: Walter Johnson Jr.
Walter Johnson musical career spans more than 30 years, and is still in progress. He's spent most of the time assisting H. B. Barnum on a diversity of projects. They did a series of jingles for Annie Green Springs and T. J. Swan Wine, wrote "Your Love" for Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, and produced the Nights album on ABC Records. Barnum and... [+] Read More
Artist: Nick Martinelli
Producer Nick Martinelli's credits include the number one R&B hits "I Feel Good All Over" and "Home" by Stephanie Mills, Regina Belle's "Make It Like It Was," and Loose Ends' "Hangin on a String (Contemplating)" and "Slow Down." For most of his hits, Martinelli worked with bassist Douglas Grisby, guitarist Randy Bowland, keyboardist Donald... [+] Read More
Artist: Larry Williams
Larry Williams is best known as being the bassist/co-songwriter/co-producer of '80s Chicago soul/funk/quiet storm group Omni. Williams also laid down the sly bass line on Wes Phillips' dance classic "I'm a Sucker for a Pretty Face" and can be heard on former Impressions member Leroy Hutson's classic, "In the Mood." He co-wrote Dee Dee Sharp... [+] Read More
