THE FATBACK BAND
Pioneers of Dance, Funk, Soul, Rap and R’n’B The Fatback Band are the originators of the New York sound that has influenced so many. A career loaded with 35 albums worth of anthems, accolades such as invitations from the White House, being featured on the Sopranos and Sky TV UK’s Revista de la Liga. Fatback has performed at New York’s Lincoln Center. Recently Fatback played at the Southport Weekender, WOMAD in Reading & Spain, London’s Jazz Cafe, The Baltic Soul Weekender, Marbella Jazz Festival, The Glastonbury Festival, The Italy Funk Fest and the O2 Indigno in 2009.
The Fatback Song “King Tim III (Personality Jock)” is considered to be the first commercially released rap single. As well as being a pioneering force in music Fatback are also pioneers in the innovation of dance-“(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop” is said to have contributed to the development of line dancing. Also including “Double Dutch” was a form of line dance.
Formed in 1970 in New York City ,The Fatback Band was the concept of Bill Curtis, an experienced drummer, inspired to merge the “fatback jazz beat” with a touch of West Indie & Caribbean beat into a funky groove. That was the basis of the first disco beat. In addition to Curtis, the band’s initial line-up included guitarist-Johnny King, bassist-Johnny Flippin, trumpet player-George Williams, saxophonist-Earl Shelton and Conga player-Wayne Woolford. The band specialized in playing “street funk”. The group also later included saxophonist-George Adams, keyboardist-Gerry Thomas, saxophonist-Fred Demerey and guitarist-George Victory.
Fatback is the last of the great dance and entertaining bands, and celebrates the fact that before DJ’s existed, it was them who were making people dance, a skill they