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The Story of Preparation Funk
It was a twist of fate. Charlie Grant, singer and keys player for popular Northwest band, Shade, had a fatal heart attack at his day job, July 15, 1999, only one month after the release of Shade's second CD, "City Lights", and merely a week after Charlie's last performance at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon. There was never any question among the remaining members of Shade that Charlie's music must live on, but the huge, looming question was who could replace Charlie's powerful and soulful voice, let alone play keyboards, too?
A couple of months after Charlie's passing, Shade guitarist Jimmy Devore, by virtue of his position at one of the bigger regional music stores, was playing the Shade CD (which was now getting considerable local airplay) over the store P.A. A part-time on-premises piano teacher, Earl Brown, loved the music, and Jimmy filled him in on the sad story. Earl decided then and there he could take over the vacant position. An "audition" was arranged with Shade drummer Boyd Martin and bassist, Scottie B. We were all floored at Earl's keyboard flash and fine R&B voice. Yes, he "passed the audition". Big time. It was really one in a million. A great singer, a tremendous keyboard player, who loved our music, wanted to get back into a band situation, AND was someone we liked a lot as a person and who liked us (!). Again, it was one of those one-in-a-million hand-of-fate kinda deals.
We played a gig or two still under the Shade moniker out of respect for Charlie, but shortly Scottie B., the funky bass player from Detroit and close personal friend of Charlie's, decided to make a lifestyle change and moved to San Diego and perceived greener pastures. This left Shade bassless.
Once again Jimmy, while talking up the situation at work to a fellow teacher-employee--and bassist--Al Criado, found that Al was looking for a new situation, and wa-la! The bass chair was filled within days.
During rehearsal in the infamous basement rehearsal room at Boyd's house, Al was commenting on the output characturistics of his bass amp, and how he needed that "Preparation Funk" behind his butt to feel completely comfortable. And a new name was born to carry on the performances of Charlie Grant's heartfelt rhythm and blues...
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| A man's gotta have his pride, ya know...Written by the late, great Charlie Grant. |
CD: City Lights
Label: Criminal Records
Credits: Charlie Grant, Boyd Martin, Jimmy Devore |
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| The writing's on the wall, and it's time to move on... |
CD: City Lights (Shade)
Label: Criminal Records
Credits: Charlie Grant, Boyd Martin, Jimmy Devore |
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| Swingin' blues shuffle about the seamier side of town... |
CD: City Lights (Shade)
Label: Criminal Records, Portland, Oregon USA
Credits: Lyrics: Charlie Grant; Music: Charlie Grant, Boyd Martin, Jimmy Devore |
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