Jan 09
19
For this one I used Hot 8 Brass Band’s “Get Up” and the disco classic “Love Injection” by Trussel from 1979. Enjoy
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About Trussel:
Born in Virginia over looking the Hill at Virginia State College a band of unique individuals all talented and dedicated to being the best at being different. Trussel came together in January of 1973 when Guitarist – Michael Chicken Gray, began to recruit other members from the music department at Virginia State to form a band. Michael recruited Ronald “Bunky” Leon Smith – drums, then William Ford (Bill) McGee – turmpet, then Larry Othello (Tiger) Tynes – piano and vocals, then Herman Lorenzo Maclin – Bass, then Junius Leroy Dyson – Percussion, then Lynwood Jones – Sax, then Veronica Jones – Vocals then Hannon Dexter Lane – Trombone, Guitar and Bass, then Francis Oliver – Road Manager.
Originally known as the Snack Shop Band because the first gigs were jam sessions in the Snack Shop (Francis Oliver was one of the student managers of the Snack Shop). Some of the original musicians jamming were Jonathan on Bass, Carlton “Piggy” Edwards on sax and singing, John Wayne Johnson (deceased) on sax, Robert Kemp and Mack on drums and others that will be named soon.
The group eventually went on to record for Elektra Records which gave the world the album “Love Injection”. Produced By The Great Fred Wesley
The first recordings “The Bicentennial Boogie” and “How Many Tricks in 1976″ were on Bridge The Gap Records based out of a record store of the same name on Washington Street in Petersburg, then “Beautiful People” and “Spread Love Everywhere” were released.. Both singles received some airplay around the Southeast. Buddah records approached Trussel about signing the single “How Many Tricks in 1976″ over to Buddah because it was a record questioning Richard “Trick Dick” Nixon. The group turned down the offer.
In the mid-seveties Trussel was very popular up north and on the mid-atlantic college circuit. Some of the places they played up north; Levitcus in NYC many, many times. and The West Indian Social Club in Hartford, CT. , East Orange and Englewood, New Jersey. But the best times were those that were spent playing HBCU dances all over the southeast. Bennett College, North Carolina A&T, Gillford, South Carolina State, Norfolk State, Virginia State, Virginia Union, Winston-Salem State, The Cosmos Club in Greensboro, The Dungeon in Winston-Salem, The Orange Peel in Asheville, The Ghana in Greenville, SC, a small club in Easley, SC, The Fountain Bleu, in Columbia SC, Knoxville, TN, Tennesee State University, Raliegh, NC., Univ. NC Chapel Hill, The Kozy Kat in Richmond, VA.. The Third World, Richmond VA.. Those were real tight gigs that lasted in to the wee wee hours of the night when people knew how to party with little or no drama.
The group later came to be known as Evelyn Champagne King’s first touring band..
However, the group is best known for the song LOVE INJECTION one of the last real Disco hits. LOVE INJECTION was the New York City theme song in late 1979 and early 1980…
In 1978 the group parted with Evelyn due to a change in managers, less than a year later Trussel signed with Elektra records and started recording their only major label Album with the great Fred Wesley as the producer. Fred talks about this in his book “Hit Me Fred”. The executive producer will forever remain nameless becaise he ripped the group off and basically ended the groups career.
Tragically, two of the groups lead singers passed away before either turned 40 years old. Larry Othello Tynes and Veronica Nylijah Jones. Both were graduates of the Virginia State University Music Department and both were tru;y gifted vocalist and musicians. Their voices were needed in heaven, so they went on to join the angel’s choir.
The surviving members of Trussel are planning to reunite and to record another project in late 2008 or early 2009. Check back here for news of the reunion tour and new CD.
About Hot 8 Brass Band:
The members of the Hot 8 were all born and raised in New Orleans; many of them began playing together in high school. In 1995 they came together and began playing traditional New Orleans brass band music professionally.
Founded by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995, the band has played in traditional Second Line parades hosted each Sunday by a Social Aid and Pleasure Club ever since. The Hot 8 are famous for playing all day in the sun, then hopping to a club gig and playing through the night. But even more than their boundless energy, what makes the Hot 8 special are the sounds they coax from their well-loved, well-worn horns.
It was not until after Hurricane Katrina, however, that Hot 8 became known nationwide. Featured on CNN, Nightline, in the New York Times, and most notably in Spike Lee’s Katrina documentary “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts”, Hot 8’s work with the Finding Our Folk Tour has brought music to evacuee shelters, temporary trailer parks, and to communities throughout the US that have provided a temporary home to displaced New Orleanians.
The Hot 8 Brass Band, like all of New Orleans, has had its share of tragedy in the aftermath of Katrina. In addition to displacement caused by the storm and subsequent violence and uncertainty contained therein, drummer Dinerral Shavers was shot and killed in late 2006 while driving with his wife and child in New Orleans. In addition, two other members of the band have lost their lives due to violence on the city streets. In response to these tragic setbacks, The Hot 8 Brass Band has recommitted itself to bringing people together through their unique brand of music to celebrate, to heal and to learn. This passion for music and social outreach led to an integral role contributing to the success of the Finding Our Folk Tour.
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