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.
