A much needed Black Music thread.

[Jubee]

Ok so going back to The Five Stairsteps. One of the members of the group was a young teen by the name of Keni Burke. Keni Burke ended up being a session musician (bassist) for many artists including Diana Ross, Natalie Cole and Curtis Mayfield. He released his first solo LP in 1977 . This was one of the singles

"Shuffle"

Gives me Ohio Players vibes for sure.

His most successful LP was 1982's 'Changes'. It featured this beauty, one of my favorite 80's songs.

"Rising to the Top"

That classic bassline has been sampled in a few memorable songs, mostly in hip hop. Of course that's him playing it. He wrote and produced pretty much all of his material. This tune went to #63 on the R&B charts.

After the Five Stairsteps disbanded they ended up forming a new group called the Invisible Man's Band. In 1980 they released this disco floor filler

"All Night Thing"

Jazz had such a huge influence on rap, can't believe just how much.

 

[brokenglass]

Great album

 

[K Douglas]

Jazz had such a huge influence on rap, can't believe just how much.

From the late 80's through the early to mid 90's there was a prominent jazz infusion in hip hop. A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr/Guru, Digable Planets, Us3, The Roots, Common etc. Many jazz records have been used in samples over the course of hip hop's history. From Bob James to George Benson to Donald Byrd to Miles Davis. Massive influence.

 

[ogibowt]

if any of you are familiar with ZZ Topp,s La Grange.....this may of been their inspiration