In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player” Poll.
The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, its been Running for a Few Month’s, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!
In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.
I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week!
ARTIST NUMBER 9…………..VERDINE WHITE
Born on July 25th 1951, in Chicago IIIinois, Verdine White is the Bassist of Earth Wind and Fire.
While still at School at the Age of around 15, Verdine saw the Double Bass being Played in Music Classes and Decided that was what he wanted to Play!
Eventually he was taking Double Bass Lessons from Radi Velah of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, this led to Advice from his Father and Maurice to take up the Electric Bass.
Satterfield was a Session Bassist and Trombonist at Chess, incidentally, Satterfield eventually became a Member of EW&F’s Backing Horn Section “The Phenix Horns”
Verdine White later Begun Working the “Chicago Club Scene” with Various Local Bands.
In 1970 Maurice White had Moved to Los Angeles to Hopefully “Get a Record Contract” with his Band , which was called “Salty Peppers”
Maurice White was soon to Rename his Band “Earth Wind and Fire” and he also asked his Brother “Verdine” to Join him in L.A. which he did in June of 1970!
Earth Wind and Fire Started Working on their Debut Album, Straight Away and By February of 1971, it was Released!
It was Called “Earth Wind and Fire” it was a Moderate Hit, Reaching Number 172 on the Pop Album Chart and number 24 on the “Black Album Chart”
The Second Album was Released by November of the Same Year (1971) and called “The Need of Love” it had More Success, it Reached Number 89 on the Pop Album Chart, but it also Contained EW&F’s First Pop Top 40 Hit Single “I Think About Lovin’ You”
After 2 more Albums, their 5th Album Release in 1974 Entitled “Open Our Eyes” Reached Number One on the US R&B Charts!
Then the Following Year in 1975, Earth Wind and Fire Released their 6th Album Entitled “Thats The Way of the World” this was to go to Number 1 on both US Pop and R&B Charts and this was to Start a Run of 8 Albums (over a 12 Year Period) up until 1987 to Achieve Very High Chart Placing on both the US Pop and R&B Album Charts.
EARTH WIND AND FIRE DISCOGRAPHY
19 Studio Albums
4 Live Albums
17 Compilations
62 Singles
EW&F Albums have Achieved the Following Status:
11 x Platinum Albums
3 x 3 Platinum Albums
2 x Double Platinum
9 x Gold Albums
And Their “Best of Volume 1” Achieved 5 X Platinum
EW&F have had 8 Number 1 US R&B Singles!
Their Biggest Ever Single was “Shining Star” which Reached Number One on both US Pop and US R&B Charts in 1975!
Verdine White and Earth Wind and Fire are Still going Strong to this Day and they have Won Numerous Awards over the Years, Far Too Many to Mention in this Post! Have a Listen to Earth Wind & Fires Greatest Hits
In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player” Poll.
The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Week’s, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!
In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.
I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week!
ARTIST NUMBER 5…………..STANLEY CLARKE
Stanley Clarke was Born on 30th June 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA.
Around 1972 he Joined the “Jazz Fusion Band” Return to Forever, which was Lead by Pianist and Synth Player “Chick Corea” they Released their Self-Titled Debut Album that Year. The following Year of 1973, Stanley Clarke Released his Debut Album, on Polydor Records, Named “Children of Forever” He so far as Released 20 Solo Albums, and 7 Albums with “Return to Forever” he has featured on Albums as a Co-Leader, Sideman or a Band Member with Several Different Artists, See Full List Below, He has also Produced for Several Artists, Stanley Clarke has also had his Music Featured in Movies, Tv Movies and TV. He has also Collaborated with some of the Biggest Artists of all Time, including George Duke, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, Lenny White, Ron Wood, Howard Hewett, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton, etc. Please go Here for Details on his Production Work and Movie Scores etc etc, as there are too many to List on here! Stanley Clarke has Won Many Awards for his Bass Playing, including: Grammy’s, Emmy’s, Readers, Critics and Magazines Polls! Stanley Clarke Discography:
In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player” Poll.
The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Week’s, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!
In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.
I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week!
ARTIST NUMBER 2…………..MARK ADAMS This Week’s Bass Player is Mark Adams (He got my Vote) of the 70’s Funk Band Slave, incidentally my Favorite Bass player and my Favorite Band! I had the Pleasure of seeing Mark Adams and Slave in Concert back in 1984, at The Pink Elephant in Luton UK, it was a Great Concert, by The Best Funk Band Ever! I have Scoured the Internet, but there is not Too Many Stories and Facts Concerning the Slave Bass Player, so I have Posted about Slave’s Early Years, which Mark Adams was an Integral Part. I will put a Few Links at the End of the Post and if you know anything, which I have not Mentioned Please drop me an e-mail (for a Part 2 Post)!
Mark Leslie Adams was Born during 1960, he was one of 3 Sibling’s,(the other 2 were Sisters) and from Dayton, Ohio, USA. Slave began in 1975, Guitarist Mark “Drac” Hicks had a Band Called Black Satin Soul with Drummer Tim “Tiny” Dozier, they later met Trumpeter Steve Washington in a Local Music Class! Mark Hicks also Knew Bassist Mark Adams, who Led another Local band by the Name of “The Young Mystics” which also included Floyd Miller, Tom Lockett Jr, Carter Bradley, Danny Webster and Orion Wilhoite. All the Members of the 2 Bands Gelled Together after a Music Session at Tim Dozier’s House!
The 2 Band’s decided to Form 1 Band together, and they Called themselves “Congress”
After 2 or 3 Sessions together the Band decided to Change their Name to “Slave” after Floyd Miller came in to 1 of the Sessions with a T-Shirt on with the Name “Slave” Written across the Front of it! Slaves early Work included Covers of Band’s such as Earth Wind & Fire, Hall & Oates and the Average White Band. Their First Concert Performance was at “The Roth High School” Talent Show, Steve Washington’s Father Brought them Their First P.A System and Mark Hick’s Father Brought them their First Amp and a Couple of Guitar’s.
After about 6 Month’s of Rehearsal’s in Mark Hick’s Father’s Garage, Steve Washington Tried to get Slave their First Contract. He knew “Jeff Dixon” who was Programme Director from WNJR-AM, he later Became “Slaves” Manager and Producer! Jeff Dixon then Set about getting Slave a Music Contract, this took about 6 Weeks and During Spring of 1977, and Slave were Signed by Henry Allen, President of Cottillion Records, a Subsidary of the Great “Atlantic Records”.
That same Year of ’77 saw “Slave” Release their Debut Album, Entitled “Slave” it was Producer by Jeff Dixon. The Album reached Number 6 on the Us Billboard Top Soul Chart and was Certified Gold. The Biggest Hit (& only Single Release from the Album) on the Album and Slave’s Biggest Hit of All Time was “Slide” the Track went “Gold” on 14 July of ’77. “Slide” Reached Number 1 on the US R&B Chart and made it to Number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The Original Line up for The “Slave” Album was as Follows: Steve Washington….Trumpet, Percussion and Vocals Mark Hicks……………Lead and Rythym Guitars and Vocals Mark Adams…………Bass Guitar Floyd Miller………….Trombone, Trumpet and Vocals Tom Lockett Jr…….Tenor and Alto Sax Carter Bradley…….Keyboards Danny Webster…..Guitar and Vocals Tim Dozier…………Drums, Percussion and Vocals Orion Wilhoite…..Alto and Tenor sax
Mark Adams was Ever Present in Slaves Line-up during their 15 Studio Album’s, they also Released 7 Compilation Album’s and had 21 Single Releases. Mark Adams Died on March 5th 2011, he was 51 Years of Age, I Believe he had 6 Children and 10 Grand Kids. To Hear some of Mark Adams Great Bass Playing check out this Great Slave Mix from ej flavors.com there are some Great Tracks on Here! Full Track Listing as Follows: 01 – Slide 02 – Spice Of Life 03 – Party Lites 04 – Wait For Me 05 – Inside Out – Odyssey 06 – Watching You 07 – Just A Touch Of Love 08 – Dreamin’ 09 – Snapshot 10 – Steal Your Heart
In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player” Poll.
The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Week’s now, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!
In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.
I will Write a Post on each Artist, One Every Other Week!
From 1969 to 1971 they were the Back Up Band for James Brown.
By 1972 “Bootsy Collins” had joined George Clinton’s Parliament/Funkadelic Bands, it was from this time, the Two began a Musical and Personal Friendship which has Lasted for Many Years!
Bootsy Collins Featured on about 5 Funkadelic Albums from 1975 to 1979:
He went on to Release a Total of 4 Albums between 1976 to 1979, under that Name!
In 1980 he Released 2 Albums, one Under His Own Name and Called “Ultrawave” and another by the Name of “The Sweat Band” and the Album was called the same!
A Further 2 Albums were Released under his own name in 1982 and 1988. Over the Years he has Released a Total of 23 Albums, Many of them Under Different Guises!
Funky-Soul-Vinyls-Blog 