This is our 40th Anniversary and we would like to thank all of our fans, Friends, DJ’s and Family for their support over the many years. We had a great run, we’re blessed to still be doing the thing we love. But it was you guys that kept us around and for this we are graceful and will always be thankful. We Love You All! There's a link at the bottom to forward this email to a friend… please use it! LETS' KEEP FUNK ALIVE!
WE’RE NOW TAKING DATES FOR OUR 2010 AND 2011 WORLD TOUR. DETAILS BELOW…
PS: For those of you who are not into downloading, email me your land address and I will send you a copy of the Album free.
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 and having performed at New York's Lincoln Center, London's 02 Indigo and Jazz Cafe as well as countless European festivals Fatback are now ready to celebrate 40 years of making people dance.
Formed in New York City in 1970, The Fatback Band was the concept of Bill Curtis, an experienced session drummer, inspired to merge the "fatback" jazz beat of New Orleans into a funk band. In addition to Curtis, the band's initial line-up included guitarist Johnny King, bassist Johnny Flippin, trumpet player George Williams, saxophonist Earl Shelton, flautist George Adams, and keyboardist Gerry Thomas. The band specialized in playing "street funk". The group also later included conga player Wayne Woolford, vocalists Jayne and Gerry, saxophonist Fred Demerey, and guitarist George Victory.
The Fatback Band signed to Perception Records and had a hit single that summer with "Street Dance". The single reached the Top 30 on the Rhythm & Blues chart. The band released the albums Let's Do It Again, People Music, and Feel My Soul before signing to Event Records in 1974.
In the mid-1970s, the band incorporated jazz elements and moved more towards a disco sound resulting in the singles, "Keep On Steppin", "Yum, Yum (Give Me Some)", and "(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop". The singles proved popular in dance clubs and in the spring of 1976 "(Do The) Spanish Hustle" was a top twenty hit. 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.
Later recording for Spring/Polydor, the group released the singles, "Party Time", "The Booty", and "Double Dutch". Late 1977 brought a name change to Fatback, and in 1978 they found their first Top Ten single with "I Like Girls". The Fatback song "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" is considered to be the first commercially released rap single, having shipped just a week before The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" in October 1979.
In 1980, Fatback had a pair of their biggest hits with "Gotta Get My Hands On Some (Money)" and "Backstrokin'". Also finding the charts in the 1980s were "Take It Any Way You Can't It", "I Found Lovin", and "Spread Love", with singer Evelyn Thomas, in 1985.
Fatback have recently played the Southport Weekender, WOMAD in Reading and Spain, London's Jazz Cafe, The Baltic Soul Weekender, Marbella Jazz Festival, the Italy Funk Fest and the O2 Indigo.
Fatback are the last of the great dance bands and celebrate the fact that before DJ's existed it was them who were making people dance, a skill they entertain to this day.
With a re-release of their beloved single 'Spanish Hustle' in honor of their 40th anniversary and an appearance on an upcoming Ministry of Sound compilation Fatback stride forward continuing to deliver infectious, hip shaking dance music and good time party hits made for the moment
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