UJIMA

Formed in Richmond Virginia, 1971 under the name The Brother Love. The original members of the group derived from four historical bands of the Richmond area. Carlton Robinson (bandleader) and Alvin Brown of “Stacy Henry & The Majestics”, Clement Burnette of “The Harmonizing Four”, Charles Manns and Dwight Smith of “Evaluated Sounds for People”, David Brown and Chauncey Burnette of “The Burning Bush”. The band soon became the new buzz of the city, sparking the interest of Nick Colleran and Eric Johnson, owners/producers of Alpha Audio Recording Studios in Richmond Virginia. This new relationship launched the group’s early recording career, resulting in being signed with Epic Records, thus changing the group’s name to Ujima. In 1973, Epic Records released the group’s first single, “I’M GETTIN HIP”(To Your Ways & Actions) written by keyboardist, Dwight Smith, putting them on the Billboard and Cash Box R&B charts. Soon followed in January 1974 with “SHE’S GONE”, written by Daryl Hall and John Oates, and the “B” side, “SOMEBODY TELL THAT GIRL THAT I’M GONE”. Later that same year, Ujima added vocalist, Debra Henry, who made way for more recording options, as well as the demanding sound of female vocals of the mid 70’s. This new added element soon brought on the recording of “A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON” written by Phil Hurtt and Anthony Bell, released by Epic Records April 15, 1975. The “B” side of that recording, “I’M NOT READY”, written by guitarist, David Brown became an airplay and club hit known as northern soul, of Europe, in the late 90’s – present, making this Ujima record a hot commodity, selling as high as $1000.00 U.S. dollars for the single, in today’s market. In early 1975 the group recorded two more singles, “STILL HOOKED ON YOU” written by guitarist David Brown, and “KEEP ON ROLLING” written by keyboardist Dwight Smith and guitarist Clement Burnette, released late 1975 on Chelsea, and Roxbury Records. Later that same year, members Chauncey Burnette drums and David Brown guitar, left the band, which brought on board two new members, Tyrone Durham on drums and Anthony Ingram on guitar. The year 1976 came with new writers/producers, Joseph B. Jefferson and Charles B Simmons, of The Spinners fame, a new sound, and subsequently changing their name to Anglo Saxon-Brown. Later that year the band recorded an LP, “Songs For Evolution” including tracks, “Gonna Make You Mine”, “Straighten It Out”, “ASB Theme”, “Grizzly”, “Disco Music”, “The Man I Love”, “Call on Me”, “I’ll Keep Lovin’ You” released on Atlantic Records, also making the Billboard R&B charts. In early 1978 Carlton Robinson- bassist/bandleader and Anthony Ingram- guitar left the group to form the new version of Ujima, consequently, Anglo Saxon-Brown adding bassist Melvin Watson to the group’s line up. In late1978 the group changed their name once more to “Silk”, sometimes confused with vocal trio Silk (Marlena Jeter, Maxi Anderson and Gwen Machu), a top background vocal session trio from Los Angeles who recorded an RCA album ’Smooth As Silk’ (1977). Still with Joseph B. Jefferson and Charles B. Simmons, the group Silk Recorded an LP, “Midnight Dancer”, in 1979 that was released on Philadelphia International Records, and this album too, yielded the minor hit "I Can’t Stop Turning You On." also charting on Billboard. Today, most all of the recordings from Ujima, Anglo Saxon-Brown, and Silk, can be found online as rare northern soul, high dollar collector’s items.