Arthur "Speq" Colden - ProfilesArchive

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Myspace Backgrounds ************************************************************ ************************************************My name is Arthur "Speq" Colden, and I have many years of diversified experience as a music/entertainment professional. Although I presently live in Detroit, I am a native Floridian (Born in Tampa and raised in Ocala). Throughout my career I have had many musical roles such as keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, arranger, and producer. I presently serve as keyboardist/vocalist for the Sun Messengers, with whom I have been performing for over 14 years. As a group we entertain at numerous public and private venues throughout the Midwest, and are seen regularly (for the last 12 seasons) on televised home games for the NBA basketball team, the Detroit Pistons. The Sun Messengers have also been featured on many locally and internationally-produced televised specials.While a member of the Sun Messengers, I contributed to the group's last released CD, "Late Night Cruise", which received rave reviews and two 1999 Detroit Music Awards. The CDs title cut, as well as several other tunes, was written and performed by me.I also performed on internationally released albums by the legendary gospel groups, Clarence Fountain and The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (notably "A Soldier in the Army of the Lord " - Philadelphia International Records, re-issued in 2004) and Sam Butler (from the critically-acclaimed play, Gospel at Colonus) and the Butler Family. In addition to that, I have recently re-united with Clarence Fountain And Sam Butler on a project due to be released in spring of 2008 entitled, "It's A Different World Now" (www.MySpace.com/ClarenceFountainSamButler).I have also had the pleasure of sharing the stage, and/or recording with, many outstanding and legendary talents in the R & B entertainment world including: O. V. Wright, Rufus Thomas, Z. Z. Hill, Ted Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Jimmie Bo Horne, comedians Clarence Blowfly Reid and Wildman Steve, Gene Dunlap, Lucky Peterson, Chick Willis and many others. ************************************************************ ******************************************

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Member Since: 2/24/2006
Band Website: SunMessengers.com
Band Members: THE SUN MESSENGERS : Arthur "Speq" Colden - Keyboards and Vocals, William "Big Will" Elijah - Trumpet and Vocals, Terry "Thunder" Hughley - Drums and Vocals, Rick Steiger - Baritone Sax, Dan "The Slayer" Mayer - Guitar and Vocals, Termon "Tipp" Hayes - Bass and Vocals, John "T-Bone" Paxton - Trombone and Vocals, Gary Kwek - Tenor and Alto SaxCHECK OUT THIS SUN MESSENGER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE which aired on WDIV/Detroit Channel 4. We perfromed a remake of an old Rufus Thomas tune entitled, "I'll Be Your Santa, Baby" ENJOY !!
Get this video and more at MySpace.com
Influences: The Sun Messengers are an eight-piece, horn-driven R&B show-band based in Detroit, Michigan USA. This top-notch band plays everything from Motown classics and old school Funk to Big-Band, Classic Rock and Jazz standards but are heavily influnced by the classic horn-driven bands of the 60s, 70s, and 80s (Tower of Power, James Brown, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Ohio Players, etc..). The Sun Messengers have been one of the most popular groups in the Detroit area since forming in 1980. The Sun Messengers have been the house band for the Detroit Pistons, performing during Piston's home games at the Palace of Auburn Hills since 1996.THE SUN MESSENGERS also had the pleasure of being among the first bands to record in the legenday Hitsville, USA - Studio One in the world famous Motown Musem, where many of the great Motown hits were recorded. In fact it was the first time that the room had been recorded in since 1972 When Marvin Gaye recorded "What's Going On". The following video was done there as part of a special tribute to the legendary Motown group, The Temptations, and is a remake of their classic all-time hit, "Poppa Was A Rolling Stone".
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Sounds Like: Although we are recognized as being the quintessential Motown band, We have heard a lot over the years that we sound a lot like many of the great horn-driven R&B bands like Tower of Power or Earth, Wind , & Fire, and even the James Brown Band.In this video THE SUN MESSENGERS, along with popular Detroit blues diva Thornetta Davis, perform another tribue to The Temptations, "Get Ready". SO . . . GET READY TO GROOVE!!!
Get this video and more at MySpace.comTHE SUN MESSENGERS are also known as "The Official Band of the Detroit Pistons". For 10 consecutive seasons the band has been performing at home Pistons games at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan. This video features the Sun Messengers performing the National Anthem before a Detroit Pistons game.. REMOVE YOUR HATS PLEASE !!
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Type of Label: Indie