Artist description If your not familiar with Funk Inc. then this is a great place to start. They were a mildly well known band of the early 70's that never made it big. They combine a phenomenal mix of jazz and funk to give you a sound which just makes you move. The sax is a constant and is as uplifting as any, while the synthesizer rocks the whole album. I'd recommend it to anyone. - PreDaTor ProDucTions -

Music Style Acid Jazz, Jazz Funk, Pop, Jazz-Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop, Soul Jazz/Groove Big and/Swing Jazz, Funk Classic R&B Jazz, Contemporary R&B/Soul, Early R&B/Soul

Similar Artists Brother Jack McDuff,Charles Earland, Big John Patton, Mack, James Brown, Lonnie Smith

Artist History Funk Inc are highly regarded in soul-jazz circles. The group was founded in Indianapolis in 1969 by organist Bobby Watley, who recruited tenor saxman Eugene Barr, guitarist Steve Weakley, drummer Jimmy Munford and conga player Cecil Hunt. Funk Incorporated sent a tape to Prestige's A & R department in March 1971 postmarked 'Indianapolis' along with a note of recommendation from Brother Jack McDuff. In the early 1970's, the original line-up came to the attention of Bob Porter, a well respected producer who signed Funk, Inc. to Prestige and paved the way for the band to record five albums for that label. The band's line-up included Bobby Watley on organ. From Ohio, he was originally a drummer, until a spell with Lonnie Smith's band in 1969 led him to switch to the keys. Bobby, the band's main composer, credited Jack McDuff as his mentor and tutor. The two other components of the rhythm section were, former James Brown drummer, Jimmy Munford and conga player Cecil Hunt. After stressing improvisation on its first three albums 'Funk Inc.', 'Chicken Lickin' and 'Hangin' Out', Funk Inc. started to lose their way in the mid-1970's and turned to heavier production, more arranging and background vocals. This slicker approach led to tension within the group, and Funk Inc. broke up in 1976. Watley continued to play live gigs on his own in the Midwest, and it wasn't until the mid-1990's that he would organize a new Funk Inc. line-up. Watley organized a new line-up that included Hunt and newcomers Teddy Patterson (alto & tenor sax), Doug Swanigan (guitar) and Phil Brines (drums). Sadly, the original members Munford and Barr passed away a few years earlier. With this lineup in place and Funk Inc., recording for Prestige once again, the band entered the studio in 1995 and recorded their first album in 21 years, 'Urban Renewal'. It was also during that 1990's that Fantasy reissued some of Funk's 1970's releases on CD. The return of Funk, Inc., one of the most popular soul-jazz combos of the Seventies, is a remarkable story. Formed in 1969 by organist Bobby Watley, the Indiana-based group was signed to Prestige Records two years later by producer Bob Porter. The band's inspired blend of impassioned jazz improvisation and riveting funk grooves was given a highly enthusiastic reception by disc jockeys and record buyers across the country, as well as by critics. "Though it bears a name that suggests yet another rock group," Stanley Dance commented in the Saturday Review, "this Indianapolis quintet plays more jazz than most of the established organ groups are permitted to record. Rhythmically, it is very strong, and its repetitive use of riffs on blues themes has an agreeable, hypnotic effect." In 1976, after cutting five albums for Prestige, Funk, Inc. broke up. Watley blames the demise of the original band on management problems, exacerbated by a general decline in the popularity of organ-led jazz groups during that period. The organist settled into the relative anonymity of performing popular standards, blues, and even country tunes as a solo act in hotel lounges. Unbeknownst to him, however, a revival of interest in the quintet's rhythm-charged brand of jazz developed during the early Nineties. British club deejays had discovered that the fatback beats played by Funk, Inc. and other soul-jazz groups provided ideal grease for the feet of dancers in the emerging acid-jazz underground. Ace Records in England reissued all five of the Prestige discs Funk, Inc., Chicken Lickin', Hangin' Out, Superfunk, and Priced to Sell as well as a Best of collection, on both CD and vinyl. They proved to be strong sellers, not only in the U.K., but as imports in Japan and in the U.S. In 1995, Prestige rereleased the first two albums on a single CD (PRCD-24156-2) for domestic consumption. Watley initially found the renewed interest in Funk, Inc. difficult to fathom. "I never thought it would come back this way," he says. "I was told that the old stuff was selling in Europe and Japan, but I never really took it seriously because I didn't have a manager. I had a guy fax me some stuff to authenticate that Funk, Inc. was still selling in England and Japan. Upon that I got in touch with Bob Porter who verified it." Watley proceeded to put a new band together, which then re-signed with Prestige and returned to Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio the scene of the original quintet's first three albums to again work with producer Porter. The result is Urban Renewal, the first new Funk, Inc. album in 21 years. Watley, saxophonist Teddy Patterson, and guitarist Doug Swanigan improvise with biting authority over some of the funkiest grooves this side of James Brown to create a winning sound not unlike that heard on the original band's albums. Drummer Phil Brines and original Funk, Inc. conga drummer Cecil Hunt complete the current lineup. "This band is fresher," Watley says of the new Funk, Inc. "The ideas are fresher. The momentum is fresher. It's just fresh because of the youth. I listen to their input; it's not just mine all mine." Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and raised in Steubenville, Ohio, Watley started out as a drummer at age 15. After high school, he joined saxophonist Sammy Bryant's rhythm and blues quartet, the houseband at Gleason's Musical Bar in Cleveland, where it backed such headlining artists as Etta James, the Coasters, Major Lance, Ben E. King, Big Maybelle, and Jimmy Reed. The band traveled some during Watley's five-year tenure and even appeared at Birdland in New York City. Watley then began a series of associations with organ players, including Winston Walls, Manuel Riggins, and Blue Note recording artist Lonnie Smith. "That organ had me hooked," Watley recalls. "I was always around organists. I saw organists start playing from scratch, so I did the same thing." Based in New York City at the time, Watley bought a Hammond B-3 the same instrument he plays today and taught himself to play it, though Jack McDuff and other friends gave him some pointers. Then the owner of Surf Side Seven in Indianapolis contacted Watley about organizing a band to back vocalists at her club. She had thought he was still a drummer, but he quickly won her over with his decidedly funky organ work. ("That's how I kinda learned how to play, playing behind all these different singers," he says.) She was also impressed with the musicians he assembled saxophonist Eugene Barr, guitarist Steve Weakley, drummer Jimmy Munford, and conga man Cecil Hunt (Barr and Munford are now deceased) as were Jack McDuff and Houston Person, who heard the group while traveling through Indianapolis and passed the word to Bob Porter. Although Porter produced only Funk, Inc.'s debut album, he continued to hear from Watley over the years. "For a producer, recording artists are kind of like cousins," Porter explains. "You may not be in touch with them all the time, but generally you know where they are and they know where you are and there's some contact. The band broke up in '76, and I didn't hear anything from Bobby for a while. Then I'd get a call from him every couple of years, and he'd tell me what he's doing. The last time he called was maybe 18 months ago." The acid-jazz movement was by then in high gear, having spread from England to Japan and on to the U.S., and the time was right for the return of Funk, Inc, over a quarter-century after its inception. With Urban Renewal, the band is back in business, rejuvenated and playing blues-bitten soul-jazz with more grit and grease that ever. "What they're doing," says Porter, "is what they were doing differently perhaps and not avoiding contemporary techniques but certainly looking for the same groove."

Group Members Original Funk Inc. includes: Eugene Barr, Bobby Watley, Steve Weakley, Jimmy Munford, Cecil Hunt. Current Band Members: Justin Claveria-tenor sax,Al Vafa-Guitar,Donzell Davis-Drums,Cecil Hunt-Conga drums, percussion (original member.

Albums Funk, Inc. (Prestige 1971); Chicken Lickin' (Prestige 1972 ); Hangin' Out (Prestige 1973); Superfunk (Prestige 1973); Priced to Sell (Prestige 1974); Urban Renewal (Milestone 1995); Acid Inc: The Best of Funk Inc. (BGP 1988)

Press Reviews Highly regarded in soul-jazz circles, organ combo Funk, Inc. has specialized in a very accessible, groove-oriented blend of jazz, funk and R&B. The group was founded in Indianapolis in 1969 by organist Bobby Watley, who recruited tenor saxman Eugene Barr, guitarist Steve Weakley, drummer Jimmy Munford and conga player Cecil Hunt. In the early 1970s, the original lineup came to the attention of Bob Porter, a well respected producer who signed Funk, Inc. to Prestige and paved the way for the band to record five albums for that label. After stressing improvisation on its first three albums Funk, Inc., Chicken Lickin' and Hangin' Out, Funk, Inc. started to lose its way in the mid-1970s and turned to heavier production, more arranging and background vocals. This slicker approach led to tension within the group, and Funk, Inc. broke up in 1976. Watley continued to play live gigs on his own in the Midwest, and it wasn't until the mid-1990s that he would organize a new Funk, Inc. lineup. With Britain's acid jazz scene having focused attention on Funk, Inc.'s work, Watley organized a new lineup that included Hunt and newcomers Teddy Patterson (alto & tenor sax), Doug Swanigan (guitar) and Phil Brines (drums). Sadly, original members Munford and Barr had died. With this lineup in place and Funk, Inc. recording for Prestige once again, the band entered the studio in 1995 and recorded its first album in 21 years, Urban Renewal. It was also during that 1990s that Fantasy reissued some of Funk's 1970s efforts on CD. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide 5 out of 5 stars Pure Organic Funk to Bump To ! I love this group. While a lot of Jazz organists were trying to cross over into the realm of funk and soul, these were soul cats doing the Hammond B-3 thing. All of their albums bumped and grooved - - and Bobby Watley (hope my memory serves me right) could play the heck out of that box. They must have been the Medeski Martin and Wood/Maceo Parker of their time, fusing the Lou Donaldson/Jimmy McGriff sound with funk and groove music. The RA tracks speak for themselves. After this check out The Counts, McGriff, John Patton, Grant Green and The Meters. Top 500 Reviewer Reviewer: Eddie Landsberg from Philly. On Target! I like the funk and "groove thang" that the group gets into. There are many so called "funkers" playing music today. However, this music is no "razz-ma-tazz." No confusion here about funk. The name "Funk Incorporated" renders justice to the music---funk has been incorporated into this music. Funk on brothers. Reviewer: Dave Harris from The Woodlands,Texas

Additional Info http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BobbyWatley-FunkInc/

Location Oxnard, California - USA

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