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BRASS, STRINGS N' THINGS
PAUL WILLIAMS TRIBUTE:09/04/07 DINGWALLS COPYRIGHT DAVID TONEY 2007 COPYRIGHT YONNI WILSON 2007
BEGGAR & CO
Beggar & Co was formed by the founder and original members of the UK pioneers of Britfunk, Light Of The World ,Trumpeter Kenny Wellington,guitarist Breeze McKrieth and saxophonist David Baptiste.
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After recording the seminal Light Of The World album 'Round Trip' various members of Light Of The World began a series of other projects. Other key LOTW members Jean Paul Maunick, Paul Williams had already begun the first of many recordings by the now internationally acclaimed Incognito. The first two releases by Beggar & Co were the Top Thirty national chart hits 'Somebody Help Me Out' and Mule (Chant No 2) an idea which came about after Beggar & Co were asked to work with Spandau Ballet on their second album and had contributed much to the success of Chant No 1 which had charted at No3 nationally. Beggar & Co then toured under the Beggar & Co/ Light Of The World umbrella much like Parliament and Funkadelic.
.. width="425" height="350" ..Around this time the term Britfunk started to be used for the homegrown UK funk bands who had joined the greats of the USA as part of the dancefloor movement. This was the age of the soulboy.
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The chart success of these singles combined with the acclaimed work of the 'Round Trip' album enabled the band to play in much bigger venues as well as places like the Caister and Purley Alldayers. 'Round Trip' was produced was produced by Augie Johnson founder member and producer of Side Effect and The LA Boppers. The production duties were shared with founder member of LOTW Breeze McKrieth credited as executive producer after contributing much in the studio.Wellington, Baptiste and McKrieth were the writers of much LOTW material' tunes such as 'Time', 'I'm So Happy', 'The Boys In Blue' as well as their major contribution to songs like 'London Town' for which Kenny Wellington wrote the lyrics at Utopia studios London, with David Baptiste providing a memorable and catchy melody, this from an Idea from Augie Johnson who had hummed the bass line to Paul Williams.
These tracks were all included on various compilation albums which sold over 100,000 copies and earned the writers gold records but more importantly put them on record alongside major influences like Kool And The Gang, Brass Construction, Earth Wind & Fire which ensured the band were being heard by the people into this genre of music. There is also something ironic about the Beggar & Co singles becoming the national chart hits that they were in the UK and a number of European territories.
Despite all of the sophistication of the 'Round Trip' album, with it's lush arrangements and excellent use of some of the most outstanding players around, Kenny, Baps and Breeze simply went into the studio called Paul Williams to put down some bass and added a joint vocal over energetic brass lines and funky guitars and keyboards and watched the record outsell any of their previous records. It is ironic that even the follow up record also did the same. This doesn't detract from the excellence of tunes like 'London Town' and others but it is one of those surprising things that happen.
Original Light Of The World
NEW ALBUM 'BRASS, STRINGS N' THINGS'LISTEN HEREBreeze McKrieth Guitar Kenny Wellington Trumpet
David Baptiste Saxophone
Jean Paul Maunick Guitar
Peter Hinds Keyboards
Chris Etienne Percussion
Everton McCalla Drums
Paul 'Tubbs' Williams Bass
This was the original band for the first LOTW album simply entitled Light Of The World.
After Chris Etienne was killed in a tragic accident when the band were hit by an articulated lorry a new percussionist joined the band just as the album was set for release. A fourth percussionist, Ganiyu, joined the band. When the band first began rehearsing in Ickburgh Road, Clapton at the home of then drummer Junior King percussionists Norman Walker and then 'Bunny' (still don't know his full name) had played with the band. The band were also later joined by trombone player Nat, who they had met downstairs in the record shop where they had been rehearsing.
Light Of The World have recorded in various configurations of these members over the years. The last studio album was the Number 1 jazz fusion CD 'Inner Voices' produced by Richard Bull and Kenny Wellington. Currently Beggar & Co are playing UK dates.
EMI have also just released an Anthology of music 'Addicted To Funk' Light Of The World which includes the work of Beggar & Co and Incognito and the addition of some other projects, including The Team.
NEW ALBUM 'BRASS, STRINGS N' THINGS' NOW AVAILABLE CLICK HERE2007 SHOULD SEE THE RELEASE OF SOME NEW PRODUCT FROM BEGGAR & CO including a compilation CD the best jazz fusion tracks incorporating sought after material from the associated 'INNER VOICES' Light Of The World CD which featured much of the work of this current Beggar & Co line-upKenny Wellington has also released a solo abum 'Kind Of Black'.DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE FROM iTunes CLICK HERE