R&B/ funk singer Jean Caliste was born on January 26, 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and adopted the professional name of “Jean Knight.” Her parents were Louis Joseph Caliste and Florence Edwards. She began singing as a teenager in her cousin’s Crescent City bar called … Read MoreJean Knight (1943- )
Funk and R&B band Raydio was formed in 1977 in Detroit, Michigan by composer/guitarist/vocalist Ray Erskine Parker Jr., vocalist/bassist Jerry Ernest Knight, pianist/guitarist/drummer Vincent Bohnam, and lead vocalist/Guitarist/lyricist Arnell Derek Carmichael. Ray Erskine Parker Jr., the lead musician, was born on May 1, 1954, in … Read MoreRaydio (1977-1981; 2014- )
Experience Unlimited, also known as E.U., is a funk band from Washington D.C. best known for their 1988 hit single, “Da Butt.” The original group members included Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot, Edward “June” Henderson, William “Ju-Ju” House, Maurice “Mighty Moe” Hagans, A.K. Webster, Jeno “Keys” … Read MoreExperience Unlimited (E.U.) (1975- )
Lipps, Inc., a short-lived rhythm and blues, disco, and funk ensemble, was founded in 1979 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Vocalist/ saxophonist Cynthia Johnson (born April 22, 1956, in St. Paul), who was the 1976 Miss Black Minnesota, led this ensemble and co-composed for the band while … Read MoreLipps, Inc. (1979-1985)
Tavares, a band of brothers, was a rhythm and blues and funk and soul group. They have also been known as The Tavares Brothers of Cape Verdean heritage (near Senegal) and Chubby & The Turnpikes. They comprised six of seven sons and one daughter of … Read MoreTavares (1969-1976)
Born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, R&B Soul/Funk balladeers Melvin McArthur Hardin (born November 30, 1948) and Hubert Timothy McPherson (born December 9, 1949), were first cousins and sons of two sisters. They started writing music when they were teenagers in Holly Springs and sang with the … Read MoreMel & Tim (1969-1974)
Multi-talented musician Morris Eugene Day was born on December 13, 1956, in Springfield, Illinois, to LaVonne Daugherty. When he was eight years old, however, his family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. There he privately studied the piano and percussion, but his passion was always the drums. … Read MoreMorris Eugene Day (1956- )
The Mad Lads were vocalists of soul/funk, R&B from Memphis, Tennessee. They were led by founding members tenor John Gary Williams who was born in the city on September 15, 1946. Other members included bass/baritone Julius Eichenfeldt Green, born October 30, 1947, in Memphis, tenor … Read MoreThe Mad Lads (1964–1972)
The Gap Band was an R&B and Funk band founded in 1967 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and comprised the multi-instrumentalists Wilson brothers Charlie: Lead vocals, piano, synthesizer, organ, drums; Ronnie: vocal, trumpet, piano, percussion, songwriter; and Robert (1956-2010): vocal, bass, guitar, and percussion. They emerged as … Read MoreThe Gap Band (1974-2010)
The Soul-funk R&B ensemble, known as the Dramatics and formed in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan, began as the Dynamics, a vocal sextet. The original members included countertenor Ron Banks born on May 10, 1951, tenor Cleveland Larry Reed, born on October 17, 1948; and baritone … Read MoreThe Dramatics (1964-2000)
