The Winstons

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The Winstons were an American funk and soul band . Her song Color Him Father (1969) received the 1970 Grammy for the best rhythm and blues song of the year.

Career

The individual members of the group had already gained musical experience in backing bands for Otis Redding or Arthur Conley when they met for some projects in the late 1960s .

The new formation initially played in the opening act for the Impressions , but quickly got a record deal . The first single Color Him Father (1969) was a hit and sold in millions . The song received a Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Song of the Year in 1970.

The next single Love Of The Common People only reached number 54 in the British charts in 1969. However, the song became a bestseller in a cover version by Paul Young in 1983 ( UK # 2, D # 5).

In the course of the success of Color Him Father there were also difficulties in the band, which eventually led to the separation. As a multiracial band, there were hardly any engagements and there were discussions about who had how much part in the compositions. Shortly before the start of a tour, the group finally broke up.

Lead singer Richard Lewis Spencer returned to his hometown, worked there as a bus driver and studied at university on the side. According to Spencer, drummer Gregory C. Coleman died impoverished as a homeless person.

Amen break

Of extraordinary importance was Amen, Brother from the B-side of the single Color Him Father . The beginning of Gregory C. Coleman's drum solo in the middle section, now known as Amen Break , has been used thousands of times in electronic music styles , making it one of the most frequently used samples .

The group was not aware of the use or success of the sample. Singer Richard Lewis Spencer only found out about it in the mid-1990s when someone tried to obtain the rights to the song over the phone.

A crowdfunding campaign started in February 2015 made it possible in November of the same year to present Spencer with a sum of 24,000 US dollars.

Members

  • Richard Lewis Spencer (lead vocals, saxophone)
  • Phil Tolotta (lead vocals, organ)
  • Quincy Mattison (lead vocals, guitar)
  • Ray Maritano (vocals, saxophone)
  • Sonny Peckrol (vocals, electric bass)
  • Gregory C. Coleman (vocals, drums)

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1969 Color Him Father US78 (12 weeks)
US
R&B12 (16 weeks)
R&B

Singles

year Title
album
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1969 Color Him Father US7th
gold
gold

(13 weeks)US
R&B2 (12 weeks)
R&B
Love of The Common People US54 (6 weeks)
US
-

More singles

  • Amen, Brother (1969)
  • Jigga What? (1969)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b report on einestages.spiegel.de
  2. "Amen Break": Crowdfunding for the most famous drum beat of all time
  3. The musicians behind the "Amen Break" finally got money for it , Noisey / VICE.
  4. a b Chart sources: US
  5. Music Sales Awards: US