Fatback Band - WikiHQ

The Fatback Band (later, simply Fatback) is an American funk and disco band that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The Fatback Band is most known for their R&B hits: "(Do the) Spanish Hustle", "I Like Girls", "Gotta Get My Hands on Some (Money)", "Backstrokin'" and "I Found Lovin'".

Their 1979 single "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" is generally considered the first commercially released hip hop single. The band specialized in playing "street funk". The group also later included conga player Wayne Woolford, vocalists Jayne and Gerry, Deborah Cooper, saxophonist Fred Demerey and guitarists Louis Wright and 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 US Billboard R&B chart, but failed to cross over to the Pop chart, a pattern the group would follow for the rest of their career. The band released the albums Let's Do It Again, People Music, and Feel My Soul before signing to Event Records in 1974.

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 Want It", "I Found Lovin'" and "Spread Love", with singer Evelyn Thomas, in 1985. Whilst American pop success proved elusive, the group made regular appearances on the UK Singles Chart, including the top ten twice with "(Do The) Spanish Hustle" and "I Found Lovin'"; the latter also covered by British disc jockey Steve Walsh, reached the top ten at the same time as the original version.

Keyboardist Gerry Thomas was simultaneously a member of the Jimmy Castor Bunch, so the band elected to remain close to the New York area instead of extensive touring. They had substantial success in UK. As recent as 2019, the Fatback Band performed at multiple concerts and festivals in London and other cities in England. Their 2020 tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have a new album to be released in 2021 and have performances scheduled in July 2021.

Band members

Current

Bill "Fatback" Curtis – drums/percussions (1970–present)
Xavier Zack Guinn – bass guitar, vocals (2015–present)
Ledjerick Todd Woods – trumpet (2002–present)
Darryl McAllister – guitar, vocals (2005–present)
Isabella Dunn Gordon – vocals
Montreal Parker – drums
Marell Glenn – keyboards (2018–present)
Ed Jackson – saxophone, vocals (1990–present)

Past

Billy Hamilton – organ, keyboard (1970–1972)
Earl Shelton – saxophone (1970–1979)
Johnny King – guitar, vocals (1970–1979)
Johnny Flippin – bass, percussion, vocals (1971–1983)
Gerry Thomas – keyboard (1971–1985)
George Adams – flute (1972–1974)
Skip Walker – drums (1985–1988, 2007)
Tom Browne – trumpet (1976)
Najee – saxophone (1983)
John DeBerry – vocals (1985–1988, 1997)
Wayne Woolford – percussion (1973)
Fred Demerey – saxophone (1977, 1979–1981)
Louis Wright – guitar (1976–1977)
George Victory – guitar (1977, 1979–1981, 1983)
Deborah Cooper – backing vocals (1977–1979)
Michael Walker – keyboard, vocals (1981, 1983)
Robert Damper – keyboard (1983–1987)
Linda Blakely (d.1994) – vocals (1982–1987)
Vernon Lloyd – bass guitar, vocals (1983–1990)
Quenetta "Que" Simpson – vocals (1996–2006)

Discography

Albums

{| class="wikitable"

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

! style="width:40px;"|US

! style="width:40px;"|US R&B

| 1972

| Let's Do It Again

| align=center | —

| 1973

| People Music

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"|1974

| Feel My Soul

| align=center | —

| Keep on Steppin

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"|1975

| Yum Yum

| align=center | —

| Raising Hell

| align=center | 158

| align=center | 37

| align=center | 19

| align=center | 35

| 1976

| Night Fever

| align=center | 182

| align=center | 31

| align=center | —

| align=center | 81

| rowspan="2"|1977

| NYCNYUSA

| align=center | —

| align=center | 54

| align=center | —

| align=center | 91

| Man with the Band

| align=center | —

| 1978

| Fired Up 'N' Kickin

| align=center | 73

| align=center | 17

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"|1979

| Brite Lites/Big City

| align=center | —

| align=center | 57

| align=center | —

| Fatback XII

| align=center | 89

| align=center | 16

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"|1980

| Hot Box

| align=center | 44

| align=center | 7

| align=center | —

| 14 Karat

| align=center | 91

| align=center | 16

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"|1981

| Tasty Jam

| align=center | 102

| align=center | 17

| align=center | —

| Gigolo

| align=center | 148

| align=center | 68

| align=center | —

| 1982

| On the Floor with Fatback

| align=center | —

| align=center | 28

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"|1983

| Is This the Future?

| align=center | —

| align=center | 27

| align=center | —

| With Love

| align=center | —

| align=center | 64

| align=center | —

| 1984

| Phoenix

| align=center | —

| 1985

| So Delicious

| align=center | —

| 1987

| Live

! style="width:40px;"|US R&B

! style="width:40px;"|AUS

| rowspan="3"| 1973

| "Street Dance"

| align=center | —

| align=center | 26

| align=center | —

| Let's Do It Again

| "Njia (Njia) Walk (Street Walk)"

| align=center | —

| align=center | 56

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"| People Music

| "Soul March"

| align=center | —

| align=center | 69

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"| 1974

| "Keep on Steppin'"

| align=center | —

| align=center | 50

| align=center | —

| rowspan="2"| Keep on Steppin

| "Wicki-Wacky"

| align=center | —

| align=center | 94

| align=center | —

| align=center | 82