The Highlighters

[Roburt]

We all know the work of the Highlighters band that backed up James Wells (Rojam Records, etc.).

But what is known about the group who had "Chittlin Pot" out on a strange indie label (RI ?) that gave no clues as to its origin or date of operations. The 45 has the look of a vanity label operation, probably run by the band themselves.

If you don't know it, this is the group's track ......& it's quite a funky little instrumental cut ......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9_cnt4R0aI

I believe the 45 is a rare item, probably given away / sold by the group themselves at gigs back in the day.

It was included on the Funkaphonix Vol.5 comp CD .... https://www.amazon.com/Vol-5-Funkaphonix-Funkaphonix/dp/B000071JUA

 

I have done some diggin and my inquiries lead me to believe that the band were from the Baltimore area.

The 'Baltimore Sounds' book lists 3 outfits that utilised the name.

One was active in the early 60's (Reginald Kelly & His Highlighters) while the other two (just 'the Highlighters') are detailed as performing in 1969 and in the 70's respectively.

The problem with this is that I have a club ad for a gig they did (at the Zebra Room, Baltimore) in summer 1967. That ad makes reference to their 45 track, so I'd say the single escaped in 1966 or early to mid 67. Those dates do not fit in with the group's who used the name that are listed in 'Baltimore Sounds'.

Anyone know much of anything about the band ??  

Edited July 12, 2013 by Roburt

[Roburt]

The above track is up on the last.fm site ...... there it says .......

 

When the Highlighters first started playing together in the early ’60s, they didn’t have James Bell on vocals or Dewayne Garvin on drums. They were just another jazz group gigging in the back room after band practice at Crispus Attucks High School.
It wasn’t long before the group decided to call themselves the Highlighters. “Our name came about because Clifford Ratliff had a couple of older brothers. They used to go out and party and in those days they used to call it highlighting,” says saxophonist Clifford Palmer Jr.

 

Those Highlighters were from Indianapolis which is almost 600 miles from Baltimore. So I still doubt that it was James Wells' Highlighters that did those gigs at the Zebra Room in summer 1967. But stranger things have happened.

[Roburt]

This bio on the group that is up on the net states that the Highlighters first recording was "" in 1969 ..........

 

Formed at Indianapolis' Crispus Attucks High School in 1963, the original lineup of saxophonist Cliff Palmer, trumpeter Clifford Ratliff, organist Richard "Boola" Ball, bassist Richard Corbin, and drummer James "Porkchop" Edwards drew their initial inspiration from modern jazz, but quickly evolved into an R&B outfit. Managed by Herb Miller, owner of the Indianapolis record store Good Vibrations, the group regularly shared bills with local girl group the Tri-Dells, but just as their career began taking off, military duties forced the Highlighters to go on hiatus in 1966. Upon returning stateside in mid-1968, only Palmer and Ball expressed an interest in reuniting the group, so guitarist James Brantley, bassist James Boone, and drummer Dewayne Garvin (a former military drummer whose uniquely syncopated style proved essential to the band's distinctive approach) were recruited to form a revamped roster. While visiting a local hotel lounge, Brantley chanced upon vocalist James Bell, and with his addition the classic Highlighters lineup was complete.

In the spring of 1969, WTLC DJ Paul Major issued the band's debut single, "Poppin' Popcorn" on his Rojam label

 

That would mean that they definitely didn't cut "Chittlin Pot" in 1966/67. The Indianapolis outfit weren't playing together in 1966 & 1967 anyway.

Edited July 12, 2013 by Roburt

[Rom1]

Hi Roburt,

 

I have this Highlighters "Chittlin pot" 45 but with a totally different design (not a blue one)

It's an orange label issue with RI in big gothic.letters (with credits...)

There's also a part 1 & part 2.

I'll scan it and post it if you want

 

Cheers Romain

[Roburt]

Hi Roburt,

 

I have this Highlighters "Chittlin pot" 45 but with a totally different design (not a blue one)

It's an orange label issue with RI in big gothic.letters (with credits...)

There's also a part 1 & part 2.

I'll scan it and post it if you want

 

Cheers Romain

That would be good. So their 45 must havebeen pressed up twice & yet it still remains a rare item.

Does your 45's label give any clues to where the label was based ?    .... CHEERS

[Rom1]

Ok I'll tell you and scan it tomorrow (as I'm not at home today)

I bought this 45 from a funk collector few years ago (not enough "funky" for him)...I didn't know it ...it sounded good (if you like organ mod soul/jazz)

cheers

[Guest]

Is this the same group? James Bell and Indianapolis on the label. Very rare 45.

 

Edited July 14, 2013 by souldan73

[Roburt]

No, James Bell's outfit were an entirely different group.

[Rom1]

Here's the scan, sadly no real infos on label apart GENILA -BMI pub. and song writer.

 

 

 

[Roburt]

Many thanks for that.

I guess the B in 'More B Records' could easily stand for B(altimore)  .....  AND the MORE for (Balti)MORE. 

 

No Genilia Pub registered with BMI anymore ..... OR ..... any Clyde Crawford as a songwriter.

Edited July 15, 2013 by Roburt

[boba]

Genilia Publishing Company

c/o Genilia Heard

4405 Kathland Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21207

[Roburt]

An ad for a show by the early 60's Baltimore based Highlighters (with Reginald Kelly).

I have no idea if this outfit had any connections at all to the group who cut "Chittlin Pot" around 7 years later.