The Winstons

Last updated

The Winstons
The Winstons.png
The Winstons in 1969
Background information
Origin Washington, D.C., United States
Genres Funk, soul
Labels Metromedia
Past members

The Winstons were an American funk and soul music group based in Washington, D.C. They are known for their 1969 recording featuring a song entitled "Color Him Father" on the A-side, and "Amen, Brother" on the B-side. Halfway into "Amen, Brother", there is a drum solo (performed by Gregory C. Coleman) which would cause the release to become the most widely sampled record in the history of electronic music. [1] Sampled audio clips of the drum solo became known as the Amen break, which has been used in thousands of tracks in many musical genres, including Breakcore, drum and bass, hip hop, [2] jungle, big beat and industrial. [3]

Contents

The "Color Him Father" record sold over one million copies, and received a gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America on 24 July 1969. It also won a Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Song (1969). [4]

The Winstons struggled to secure gigs in the South with their multiracial composition and disbanded in 1970.

Members

The Winstons toured as a backup band for the Impressions. [4]

Notable songs

See also

Related Research Articles

Breakbeat is a broad type of electronic music that tends to use drum breaks sampled from early recordings of funk, jazz, and R&B. Breakbeats have been used in styles such as hip hop, jungle, drum and bass, big beat, breakbeat hardcore, and UK garage styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amen break</span> Widely sampled drum break

The Amen break is a drum break that has been widely sampled in popular music. It comes from the 1969 track "Amen, Brother" by the American soul group the Winstons, released as the B-side of the 1969 single "Color Him Father". The drum break lasts seven seconds and was performed by Gregory Coleman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funky Drummer</span> 1970 single by James Brown

"Funky Drummer" is a single released by James Brown in 1970. Its drum break, improvised by Clyde Stubblefield, is one of the most frequently sampled music recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go Crazy</span> 1984 single by Prince and The Revolution

"Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album Purple Rain. It is the opening track on both the album and the film Purple Rain. "Let's Go Crazy" was one of Prince's most popular songs, and was a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other hits. When released as a single, the song became Prince's second number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the two component charts, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Dance Club Play charts, as well as becoming a UK Top 10 hit. The B-side was the lyrically controversial "Erotic City". In the UK, the song was released as a double A-side with "Take Me with U".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heat Wave (1963 song)</span> 1963 single by Martha and the Vandellas

"Heat Wave" is a 1963 song written by the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team. It was first made popular by the Motown vocal group Martha and the Vandellas. Released as a 45 rpm single on July 9, 1963, on the Motown subsidiary Gordy label, it hit number one on the Billboard Hot R&B chart—where it stayed for four weeks—and peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Take You There</span> 1972 single by the Staple Singers

"I'll Take You There" is a song written by Al Bell, and originally performed by soul/gospel family band the Staple Singers. The Staple Singers version, produced by Bell, was released on Stax Records in February 1972, and spent a total of 15 weeks on the charts and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. By December 1972, it had sold 2 million units and is ranked as the 19th biggest American hit of 1972. It remains one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cool (The Time song)</span> 1981 single by The Time

"Cool" is a song by The Time, released as the second single from their eponymous debut album. Like most of the album, the song was recorded in Prince's home studio in April 1981, and was produced, arranged, and performed by Prince with Morris Day later adding his lead vocals. The song was co-written with Revolution guitarist Dez Dickerson and contains background vocals by keyboardist Lisa Coleman, however both were uncredited.

<i>The Dude</i> (Quincy Jones album) 1981 studio album by Quincy Jones

The Dude is a 1981 studio album by the American musician and producer Quincy Jones. Jones used many studio musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Pants (James Brown song)</span> 1971 single by James Brown

"Hot Pants (She Got to Use What She Got to Get What She Wants)" is a funk song by James Brown. Brown recorded the song in 1971 and released it that year as a three-part single on his People Records label, which was then distributed by his primary label King. It was a number-one R&B hit and reached number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in the U.S. along with reaching number ten on the Cashbox magazine charts. "Hot Pants" was Brown's final release under King's purview before he (and the People label) moved to Polydor Records. The song's lyrics are an ode to the captivating power of the title garment, which members of the band first saw on their 1970 European tour.

<i>Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine</i> 1986 studio album by Daryl Hall

Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine is a 1986 solo album by Daryl Hall. The album features his only top-ten solo single, "Dreamtime", which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "Foolish Pride", peaked at number 33.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Color Him Father</span> 1969 single by the Winstons

"Color Him Father" is a song written by Richard Lewis Spencer and recorded by American rhythm and blues group the Winstons. It was released in 1969 as their debut single for Metromedia and was a No.7 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 that year, representing the Winstons' highest entry there. A cover by American singer Linda Martell on Plantation Records also charted in the same year, reaching No. 22 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

<i>Michelle</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Michelle

Michel'le is the debut studio album by American singer Michel'le. It was released on October 23, 1989, on Ruthless Records, Atco Records and Atlantic Records. The album was co produced by Dr. Dre of N.W.A and André “LA Dre” Bolton. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America five weeks after its release.

<i>Chinese Wall</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Philip Bailey

Chinese Wall is the third solo album by American singer Philip Bailey, released on the Columbia Records label in October 1984. The album reached number 22 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts respectively. The album was Grammy nominated in the category of Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. Chinese Wall has also been certified gold in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Through the Storm</i> (Aretha Franklin album) 1989 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Through the Storm is the thirty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on April 25, 1989, by Arista Records.

<i>When Love Comes Calling</i> (Deniece Williams album) 1979 studio album by Deniece Williams

When Love Comes Calling is an album by American singer Deniece Williams, released in June 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart.

<i>20/20</i> (George Benson album) 1985 studio album by George Benson

20/20 is a studio album by George Benson, released on the Warner Bros. record label in 1985. The lead single by the same name reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. "You Are the Love of My Life" is a duet with Roberta Flack. It was one of a number of songs used for Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo on the American soap opera Santa Barbara. Also included on 20/20 is the original version of the song "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" which would later become a smash hit for Hawaiian singer Glenn Medeiros.

<i>I Commit to Love</i> Album by Howard Hewett

I Commit to Love is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Howard Hewett. It was released on June 25, 1986 via Elektra Records. The album serves his first release after he departed from the group Shalamar. Recording sessions for this ten-track album took place at nine various recording studios viz. Americayn Studios, Ground Control Studios, Larrabee Sound Studios, Le Gonks West, Mama Jo's, Nick's Place, Soundcastle, Studio 99 and Village Studios. Together with Hewett, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Glen J. Barbee, Ross Vannelli and Monty Seward worked on the production of the album.

<i>Lets Do It</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Roy Ayers

Let's Do It is a studio album by American musician Roy Ayers. It was released in 1978 through Polydor Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios and Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and at Record Plant in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Ayers himself with co-production by William Allen. The album features contributions from Merry Clayton, Sylvia Cox and Debbie Burrell on vocals, Harry Whitaker, Armen Donelian and Philip Woo on piano, Greg Moore on guitar, Kerry Turman on bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, Chano O'Ferral on congas, Justo Almario on saxophone, and John Mosley on trumpet.

<i>Fever</i> (Roy Ayers album) 1979 studio album by Roy Ayers

Fever is a studio album by American musician Roy Ayers. It was released in 1979 through Polydor Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios and Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and at Record Plant in Los Angeles. The production was handled by Ayers himself with co-production by Carla Vaughn.

<i>Divine Emotion</i> 1988 studio album by Narada Michael Walden

Divine Emotion is the ninth studio album by American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer Narada Michael Walden. It was released in 1988. The album includes the single "Divine Emotions", which reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart, number 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number eight in the UK Singles Chart. Two other singles were released from the album: "Can't Get You Outta My Head" and "Wild Thing".

References

  1. "Six seconds that shaped 1,500 songs", by Ellen Otzen, BBC News Magazine, 29 March 2015
  2. Nottingham, Kevin (16 March 2009). "Top 10 Most Sampled Songs in Hip Hop" . Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  3. "Video explains the world's most important 6-sec drum loop". YouTube. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  270. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.