1971, in Detroit, trombonist Phil Ranelin and saxophonist Wendell Harrison started a band, a recording company, and a magazine, and called them the Tribe. This legendary political, social, and aesthetic collective also included key members like drummer Doug Hammond, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, Pianist Harold McKinney plus musicians like Keyboardist David Durrah, Drummer Roy Brooks, Trumpeter Charles Moore, Drummer Billy Turner, Bassist Ed Pickens, The Mixed Bag, Keyboardist Charles Eubanks, Bassist Will Austin, Drummer Ron Jackson, percussionist Barbara Huby, Bass Clarinetist Aaron Neal, Keyboardist Keith Vreeland, Drummer George Davidson, Keyboardist Buddy Budson, Guitarist Ralph Armstrong, Bassist Lopez Leon, Synth player Daryl Dybka, Conga Player Charles Miles, Percussionist Billy Turner, Drummer Bud Spangler, Percussionist Lorenzo Brown, Vocalist Jeamel Lee, Poetry group The Black Messengers and many others. To sum up the collective in one it's founders own words - Phil Ranelin "We played each others music, shared musical ideas and in many ways had eternal influences on each other."
The collective released a number of highly collectable albums including records like Phil Ranelin's "Vibes From The Tribe," Marcus Belgrave's "Gemini II," Harold McKinney's "Voices And Rhythms Of The Creative Profile," Doug Hammond and David Durrah's "Sea of Nurnen," and Wendell Harrison's "An Evening with the Devil" - many of these releases have been reissued in the US, Europe and Japan by labels like Hefty, Soul Jazz and P Vine.
In early 2007, producer Carl Craig re-assembled the remaining core living original members of the Tribe collective - Wendell Harrison, Phil Ranelin, Marcus Belgrave and Doug Hammond in his Detroit Studio to record a brand new album.
Stay tuned to this space for more info.
Tribe Discography
1973: The Tribe Presents Wendell Harrison & Phillip Ranelin: Message From The Tribe - LP
1973: Tribe: Farewell To Welfare Part 1 & 2 - 7â€
1973: Wendell Harrison: An Evening with the Devil - LP
1974: Marcus Belgrave: Gemini II - LP
1974: Harold McKinney: Voices And Rhythms Of The Creative Profile - LP
1974: Phil Ranelin: The Time Is Now - LP
1975: Doug Hammond & David Durrah: Sea of Nurnen – LP
1975: Doug Hammond & David Durrah: Venus Fly Trap- 7â€
1975: Phil Ranelin: Vibes From The Tribe - LP
1976: The Mixed Bag: The Mixed Bag – LP
Upcoming:
Tribe: The Return of Tribe (exact title TBC - Community Projects / Planet E
An Interview with Wendell Harrison
Doug Hammond - a video for his song "We People" featured on his solo album "A Real Deal" out in September 2007 on French label Heavenly Sweetness.
