Gene Barge

Gene Barge (born August 9, 1926 in Norfolk , Virginia ) is an American tenor and alto saxophone player , composer, producer and actor. He was instrumental in the development of the musical careers of Natalie Cole and Gary US Bonds and other artists from Stax and Chess Records.

Life

Gene Barge's life could make a good film for a film. He attended Booker T. Washington High School with a plan to become a professional football player, but began playing the clarinet in the newly formed school band. After the Army he enrolled at West Virginia State College to become an architect, but soon switched back to music, playing as the lead saxophonist of the college band. He made his first record with a band called "The Griffin Brothers " in 1951. He went on tour with the group The Turbans and Ray Charles , where he was played by Chuck Williswas poached. He played various numbers with Willis Band, such as B. "CC Rider", a big hit. After signing for Legrand Records, he took on the instrumental track "A Night with Daddy G." as the leader of the group "The Church Street Five", which Gary US Bonds heard and wrote with Badge's consent. This collaboration resulted in "Quarter to Three", a number one hit. From mid-1961 to late 1962, the two worked together and wrote several hit singles ("School Is In," "School Is Out," "Dear Lady Twist," "Twist Twist Senora," and "Copy Cat") during that time Barge English teacher and leader of the band at East Suffolk High School in Suffolk , Virginia .

In 1964 his teaching career ended and he became a producer, arranger and saxophone player for Chess Records . Artists he has worked with include Little Milton , Billy Stewart , The Dells , Fontella Bass , Koko Taylor , Muddy Waters and The Radiants . For Chess' gospel division, he worked with The Soul Stirrers , Dr. Alex Bradford, Ruth Davis and the Davis Sisters, The Meditation Singers, The Violinaires and Fontella Bass' mother, Martha Bass. After Chess Records closed, he moved his work to Stax Records and after the company closed, he recorded albums with "The Independents". As a producer, he worked on the first hit single, "This Will Be", for Natalie Cole , the daughter of Nat King Cole . He wrote the song with Charles Jackson from "The Independents". Other hits followed and Barge was awarded a 1976 Grammy as a co-producer of "Sophisticated Lady" .

1977 began his acting career. He starred in films with Chuck Norris , Steven Seagal and Gene Hackman , in many films in which he worked as an actor, he also wrote the film music or songs. In 1982 he went on a European tour with the Rolling Stones . For the Chicago Rhythm And Blues Kings, with whom he also played saxophone, he produced three albums for Alligator Records in the 1980s (still as Big Twist and The Mellow Fellows ). In 1998 Buddy Guy recorded a song by Barge on his album Heavy Love. Guy had close ties with Barge, who was the producer of his first album "I Left My Blues in San Francisco".

In addition to his musical activities, Gene Barge is the general manager of the gospel label ThisIt Records and the owner of a recording studio.

Working as a producer, saxophone player and arranger (selection)

• I Left My Blues in San Francisco - Buddy Guy
• Electric Mud - Muddy Waters
• If Walls Could Talk - Little Milton
• London Bo Diddley Sessions - Bo Diddley
• What It Is - Little Milton
• Natalie - Natalie Cole
• What It Takes: The Chess Years - Koko Taylor
• Natalie Live! - Natalie Cole
• Meets Chubby Checker - Gary US Bonds & Chubby Checker
• Great Twenty-Eight - Chuck Berry
• Playing for Keeps - Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows
• Guitar Slinger - Johnny Winter
• Essential Etta James - Etta James
• Midnight Blues - Magic Slim & the Teardrops
• How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? - Public Enemy

Movie

As an actor

• Chain Reaction (1996) - James Washington
• The Fugitive (1993) - 11th District Cop
• Under Siege (1992) - The Bail Jumpers
• The Package (1989) - Secret Service Agent
• Above the Law (1988) - Detective Henderson
• Code of Silence (1985) - Music
• Stony Island (1978) - Percy Price

Film music

• The Guardian (2006) - saxophone
• Under Siege (1992) - Songs ("Rap Mama Goose" "Love You to Death" "Sea of ​​Blues")
• Dogfight (1991) - song ("Twist Twist Senora")
• Saxo (1988) - film score
• Mask (1985) - Songs ("Quarter to Three" "Havin 'So Much Fun")
• Valley Girl (1983) - Song ("School Is In")
• Stony Island (1978) Musical Director and Supervisor
• Save the Children (1973)

Individual evidence

1. ^ AMG biography of Ed Hogan