45 Kenyatta - Kick It Off - Movin' Music - Killer 70's Deep Funk / Soul - Epsilon Record Co EPS026

EPS026 Kenyatta - Kick It Off - Movin' Music - Killer 70's Deep Funk / Soul

Killer 70's Deep Funk / Soul 

Written & Arranged by James Crabbe Robinson & Keith Rose

CBS studio in Manhattan New York 1974

(Special thanks for Paris Ford & Steve Clancy)

A: KICK IT OFF (3:24)

B: MOVIN' MUSIC (2:57)

Kenyatta

Members: 

James Crabbe Robinson

Paris “Peewee” Ford

Keith “Key Boy” Rose

Henry “Butch” Jackson

Paul (GQ) Service

Kenny Kirkland

Produced by Art Weiseger

BMI: Little Jason Music Music Co.

James E. Robinson, New York, U.S.A.

Lead vocalist, songwriter & producer

Based in New York, James sang guest lead vocals with artists including Norman Connors('Stella' and 'Listen') and Lonnie Liston Smith ('Song For The Children' and 'Love Is The Answer').

He replaced Luther Vandross in Change and singing lead with the group on songs including 'The Very Best In You' (1982). 

As a solo artist he signed to Tabu Records in 1987 where his one album was 'Guilty'.

That album contained the popular track 'I Feel Like Going On'.

Other artists he has recorded with include Jeff Lorber ('Every Woman Needs It'), Lenny White('Attitude') and Bob Baldwin.

While with Lonnie Liston Smith, incidentally, James wrote 'Speak About It' on which he also played guitar.

James's cousin is Paris Ford, who played with Norman Connors, Lonnie Liston Smith and was the original bassist on Tyrone Thomas And The Whole Darn Family's '7 Minutes Of Funk'.

In 1995, Robinson teamed up with Mark Johnson for the track 'Daydream', taken from an album on JVC called 'Daydream', which became popular at Soul Weekenders and on London's Jazz FM radio station.

In 2001, he teamed up with another jazz keyboard artist, Bob Baldwin, for his album 'City Sketches'.

The track 'Stay', taken from this set, being highly popular.

James Robinson is also known as James 'Crab' Robinson.

Paris Ford, New York, U.S.A.

Bass Player

One of the most enduring Bassist of the past decades, PARIS FORD has taken his place as one of the most groundbreaking “New Old School” session players in popular music, from sharing recording sessions with the likes of Marcus Miller and Anthony Jackson to Recording and/or touring with everyone from Punk/Funk R&B recording artist Rick James to Jazz Fusion Violinist Micheal Urbaniak to name a few. 

PARIS FORD’s early days of Junior High School in the Bronx, playing in local bands with a great deal of his influences Larry Graham, Graham Central Station and Francis Rocco Prestia of Tower Power to name a few, makeup the unique style of his bass playing technique. His production combines the undeniably funky soulful song writing skills of R&B Jazz/Funk and Hip Hop. 

PARIS FORD has released several Recordings throughout Europe and has played Bass for Rick James, The B.B.&Q Band, Johnny Gill, New Edition, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Lenny White, Tyrone Thomas, Norman Conners, Lonnie Liston Smith, Micheal Urbankiak, Urszula Dudziak, James Robinson, Invisible Man's Band, The Village People, Glen Jones, Vicki Sue Robinson, Jean Carn, Val Young, J Plunky & Oneness and many other well known major recording artist also playing on many Jingles. 

PARIS FORD endorse Spector Basses (since 86'), EMG"s Bass pickups, Mutron products and DR Handmade strings

Check Paris Ford new single:

https://parisfordrecords.wixsite.com/my-site

Keith "Key Boy" Rose, New York, U.S.A.

Lead Vocals / Percussionist

Lonnie Liston Smith, Hip hop Single and voice of  80s  Rapper "The Rake - Street Justice"

Paul Service(RIP)

Recording the Platinum-selling group's Album GQ "Disco Nights" 
He was deported to his hometown of Jamaica where he succumb to his death in the 90s

Kenny Kirkland (RIP)

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1955, Kirkland was six when he first sat down at a piano keyboard. After years of Catholic schooling, Kirkland enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied classical piano performance, classical theory, and composition.
Kirkland's first professional work came with Polish fusion violinist Michal Urbaniak, touring throughout Europe with his group in 1977.

Coincidentally, his next high-profile gig was with another Eastern European jazz émigré, Miroslav Vitous. Kirkland is featured on Vitous' ECM recordings First Meeting and Miroslav Vitous Group.

In 1980, while Kirkland was on tour in Japan with Terumasa Hino, he met Wynton Marsalis, which began their long association.

On Marsalis's self-titled debut album, Kirkland shared the piano duties with one of his musical influences, Herbie Hancock, but was the sole pianist on Marsalis's subsequent releases Think of One, Hothouse Flowers, and Black Codes. After his association with Wynton Marsalis, Kirkland joined Branford Marsalis's band. He is also on Marsalis's funk band album Buckshot Lefonque. When Branford Marsalis assumed the high-visibility role of bandleader for NBC TV's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Kirkland became the band's pianist.

In 1991, he released his debut as a leader, Kenny Kirkland, on GRP Records. Thunder And Rainbows (1991, Sunnyside Records), by "Jazz from Keystone", is a trio album with Kirkland, Charles Fambrough, and Jeff "Tain" Watts.

Leading up to and on June 1–3, 1998, Kirkland worked with long-time associate Jeff "Tain" Watts on the drummer's debut recording Citizen Tain. According to producer Delfeayo Marsalis, "He was clearly not in good shape." When asked about going to the doctor, Kirkland responded, "After the session. If I go now, they'll make me check into a hospital." On June 4, doctors told Kirkland he had a congestive heart condition that required an operation. He attributed his poor health to twenty years of touring without adequate vacations and exercise and deemed his chances of surviving any surgery 50/50 or less. Fearful of having a cardiac procedure, Kirkland accepted his fate and was soon on the road with Branford Marsalis again.

On November 7, 1998, Kirkland attended Marsalis's wedding in New Rochelle, New York. Kirkland was found dead in his Queens apartment on Friday, November 13, 1998.

The official doctor's report listed his death as due to congestive heart failure. He was survived by his mother, a brother and two sisters.

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