On Monday, June 17, 2024, Jimmy Brown – singer, saxophone, trombone and flute – received a proclamation from the City of Atlanta along with R&B/funk/jazz bank Brick.
Brick was formed in Atlanta in 1972 by Regi Hargis from members who were from both jazz and disco backgrounds. They released their first single, “Music Matic,” on Main Street Records in 1976, before signing to the independently distributed Bang Records. Their next single, “Dazz,” was released in 1976 and reached #3 in Pop charts and #1 in R&B charts. Other songs included: “That’s What It’s All About,” and “Dusic,” “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” (which reached #92 in Pop charts, #7 in R&B charts) in 1978. Their last Top Ten R&B hit was “Sweat (Til You Get Wet)” in 1981. On the Magic City label, they released “Too Tuff” in 1988.
Brick’s Donald Nevins – singer, piano, keyboards – died on August 7, 2011, at the age of 62. Regi Hargis – founder and guitar – died on October 15, 2021, at the age of 70. Ambric Bridgeforth – vocals, keyboards – died in 2023.
Brick band members included: Jimmy Brown – vocals, saxophone, flute, trombone; Billy Barlow – keyboards; Tres Gilbert – bass guitar; Melvin Baldwin – drums and percussion; Tomi Martin – guitar; Sherita Murphy – vocals; Regi Hargis – guitar, bass, vocals; Ray Ransom – vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion; Donald Nevins – vocals, piano, clavinet, Moog; Edward D. Irons, Jr. – vocals / drums / keyboards; and Ambric Bridgeforth – vocals, keyboards.
Ripple was another band noted for its funk and R&B influence. Curtis Reynolds, who sang and played organ, piano and vibraphone with the band Ripple, also received a proclamation from the city for Ripple’s contributions to the music industry of Atlanta on Monday, June 17, 2024. Originally out of Michigan, the band moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Ripple released albums under the GRC Records label and Salsoul Records label. “I Don’t Know What It Is, but It Sure Is Funky” and “The Beat Goes On and On” were two of the band’s songs. The group opened for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on their “Mothership Connection” tour. “The Beat Goes On and On” became a disco/hustle classic.
Many of us are very familiar with their “Oh-La Oh-La Ay” line from “I Don’t Know What It Is, but It Sure Is Funky” that has been used in other hits. That line was also used in Jamaican singer Marcia L. Griffiths’ “Electric Boogie (Electric Slide)” and hip-hop Kid ‘n Play’s 1988 hit “Rollin’ with Kid ‘n Play.”
Ripple band members included: Keith Samuels – guitar, vocals; Simon Kenneth Carter – bass, vocals; Brian Sherrer – drums, percussion, timbales; Walter (Wally) Carter – conga, percussion, vocals; Dave Ferguson – trumpet, flugel horn, percussion; William (Bill) Hull – tenor sax, flute, percussion; Curtis Reynolds – organ, piano, vibe master, vibraphone, vocals; Victor Burks – keyboards, vocals; and Barry Lee – guitar.
Black Music Appreciation Month
President Jimmy Carter created Black Music Appreciation Month in 1979, and it celebrates Black/African-American musical influences.
Last updated on June 18, 2024
