The Blackbyrds - Soft And Easy (1977) 45RPM RiP

SiNGLE by The Blackbyrds


B-side..........................."Something Special"
Released......................1977
Format..........................45RPM
Genre............................R&B
Total Time.....................8' 23''ca.
Producer.......................Donald Byrd for Blackbyrd Productions Inc.
Label.............................Fantasy Records
Filetype.........................Wav @ 48kHz


TRACKLiST:

Side A - The Blackbyrds - Soft And Easy
Side B - The Blackbyrds - Something Special


The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard University students: Kevin Toney (keyboards), Keith Killgo (vocals, drums), Joe Hall (bass guitar), Allan C. Barnes (saxophone, clarinet), and Barney Perry (guitar). Orville Saunders (guitar), and Jay Jones (flute, saxophone) were later members of the group. They signed to Fantasy Records in 1973. They are best known for their 1975 hit "Walking in Rhythm", which received a Grammy nomination, sold over one million copies by May 1975, and was awarded a gold disc.

With eight successful albums released for Fantasy from 1974 to 1980, The Blackbyrds became an inspiraiton to late 1970s and early 1980s British jazz-funk acts such as Light Of The World and Hi-Tension. While, with Gang Starr, Da Lench Mobb and Full Force sampling their music, they have also more recently made a significant impact on the hip-hop generation.

In particular, their 1975 song "Rock Creek Park" from the City Life album has been sampled numerous times by groups such as De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, NWA, Massive Attack, Ice Cube, Heavy D, Nas and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.

The song has also appeared on the soundtrack to the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.


source: WiKiPEDiA The Free Encyclopedia