WHO'S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER # 10 VICTOR WOOTEN

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist's who are in My "Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, its been Running for a Few Month's, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week, This Week is the 10th and Last Artist on the List! 

ARTIST NUMBER 10..............VICTOR WOOTEN

Victor Lemonte Wooten was Born on 11th September 1965 in Mountain Home, Idaho USA.

His Parents Pete and Dorothy Wooten were in the Military!

Victor was the Youngest of 5 Brothers, they Moved to Hawaii when Victor was Very Young.

All the Brothers were Musicians, and Victors Brother Regi Learned him to Play the Bass at the age of 2 Years.

By the Age of 6, Victor was in a Band, formed by his Bothers which was Called "The Wooten Brothers" 

They Toured Night Clubs and Theatres as a Support Act, they Supported Curtis Mayfield and his Band. 

By an Early Age, Victor had learned to Play the following Instruments: Bass, Double Bass and the Cello.

Before he had Left High School, The Wooten Brothers had been the Opening Act for Various Soul, Funk and Jazz Bands, such as War, Ramsey Lewis, Stephanie Mills,  Maze, Dexter Wansel and The Temptations! 

The Wooten Brothers Released their One and Only Album in 1985!

Victor Wooten was a Founding Member of the Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in 1990, they Released their Debut Album in that Same Year, it was "Self Titled"

The Band has now Released 14 Albums from 1990 to the Present Day, the Last One being  2012, VW has also been involved with " 2 Albums with "Bass Extensions" 2 albums with "Vital Tech Tones" and One with "Greg Howe"

He has also Released 9 Solo Albums, between 1996 and 2012,

but the Best Project he has been Involved with, was S.M.V Back in 2008, he Recorded  and Toured with Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller!

Over the Last Few Years Victor Wooten has Won Many Awards for his Bass Playing including "Bass Player of the Year" by the Magazine "Bass Player" in Fact he Won this Award for 3 Years Running, No other Bass Player has Ever Achieved this, he has also won 5 Grammy Awards!

A Selection of Victor Wooten Tracks

The Full Album by SMV... THUNDER

Victor's Jam Live!



SMV PLAYING THUNDER LIVE, VICTOR WOOTEN, MARCUS MILLER AND STANLEY CLARKE

THE 178th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 178th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called "Soul Funk & Jazz Volume 123" Its been Mixed by Payback, and Features some Rare Tracks from Yesteryear, Including: Johnny Taylor, Little Beaver, Curtis Mayfield, Maze and The Moments!

For a Full Track Listing and Download go to Paybacks Mixcloud Page!

PAYBACK Vol. 123 November 2012 by Payback: Soul Funk & Jazz on Mixcloud

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THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME....FRANKIE BEVERLY

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist's who are in My "Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Month's now, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of "Top to Bottom" of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 10..............FRANKIE BEVERLY

Frankie Beverly was Born on 6th December 1946 in the US City of Philadelphia PA.

As a Young Boy he Sung Gospel Music in his Local Church, and by the time he Reached his Teenage Years, He had Formed a Doo-Wop Group by the Name of "The Blenders"

The Group did not Last too long and by 1963, Frankie Beverly had Formed another Band by the name of "The Butlers"

During the Latter part of the 60's the Band caught the Attention of Kenny Gamble, and went on to Record with Gamble.

But during 1970 another Name Change Happened, this time they Changed it to "Raw Soul"

By 1971 it was Decided that the "Raw Soul" Sound didn't Suit the "Philly Sound" so Frankie Beverly and the Band Re-Located to California, where the Music was more Laid Back! 

As the 70's went by, the Band were soon Discovered by the Sister-in-law of Marvin Gaye, and soon after Marvin Gaye was using "Raw Soul" as his Opening Act while on the Road. 

Marvin Gaye Loved the band but did not Like their Name, so he Persuaded Frankie Beverly to have another Name Change, and this time it Worked and by 1976 "Maze" had Signed for Capitol Records!

By 1977, Maze Released their Debut Album on "Capitol Records" called Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, it was to Start a Run of Success that had 8 Studio Albums Released over about a 16 Year Period, and all of them Attained "Gold Status"

The Album had 2 Single Releases that were "While I'm Alone" which Reached Number 89 on the US Pop Chart and Number 21 on the US R&B Chart and followed by "Lady of Magic" which Reached Number 108 on US Pop Chart and Number 13 on the US R&B Chart.

Over their Period of Success, Maze only had 2 Number One's on the US R&B Chart, and they were "Back in Stride" in 1985 and "Cant Get Over You" in 1989.

My Favorite 2 Album's by "Maze & Frankie Beverly" were "We Are One" in 1983 and "Cant Stop The Love" from 1985.

Maze were not a Big Recording Band, in fact they only ever Released 10 Albums and 2 of them were Live Recordings!
but they were by Far one of the Best Loved Bands, Especially in the U.K!

MAZE DISCOGRAPHY

8... STUDIO ALBUMS                             

2... LIVE ALBUMS

5... COMPILATIONS

30... SINGLES

For a More In-Depth look into Frankie Beverly & Maze Check out these Previous Posts, in 5 Parts: Starting Here

Checkout The Best of Frankie Beverly & MazE

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THE 127th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 127th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by DJ Kumbi, its called "1980 to 1989 R&B Mix Volume 13, there's some Classic Soul Music on here, Checkout the Complete track Listings

Press play button below to Listen or to Download go to WebPage!

PLAYLIST: 
guy – do me right – ft. heavy d 
guy – let’s stay together 
after 7 – one night 
melba moore – do you really want my love 
mantronix – got to have your love 
full force – love is for suckers 
the cool note – spend the night 
cashflow – mine all mine 
the fatback band – I found lovin’ 
mercy mercy – what are we gonna do about it 
loose ends – gotta make you mine 
shalamar – over and over 
52nd street – tell me (how it feels) 
lillo thomas – (you’re are) good girl 
maze – joy and pain – ft. frankie beverly 
today – him or me

THE 64TH MIX FOR FSVB

Here's the 64th Mix for F.S.V.B,  Its a Frankie Beverly and Maze, there's some classic Tracks on here, Its called  Frankie Final!

Check Out Web Page For Track Listings and Download.


Track Listing

Before I Let Go
The Look In Your Eyes (Live)
Running Away
Back In Stride
Laid Back Girl
Golden Time Of Day
Joy And Pain
We Are One
After The Morning After
Happy Feelin's
Can't Get Over You
I Wanna Thank You
While I'm Alone
Silky Soul Singer (tribute to Marvin Gaye)

MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY Part 4

By 1982 Maze were Probably the Biggest Soul Band here in U.K, they had Sold out a 2 Night Stint at the Hammersmith Odeon, even though their Music was never played on Mainstream Radio and they had never appeared on British TV!

After the Success of the Tour, Maze returned home to start work on their New Album, by May of the following (1983) "We Are One" was Released, It was again on the Capitol Record Label, Produced by Frankie Beverly, but this was the First Maze Album, not to go Gold!

It Charted at number 25 on US Pop Charts and 5 on US R&B and 38 on UK Pop.   

It contained 4 Singles  with "Love Is The Key" being their Biggest Hit to Date. 

I think "Love Is The Key" is my Favorite Maze Track of all time!  

                                   US POP, US R&B , UK

Love Is The Key           80 ------- 5 ------- 88
Never Let You Down    0 ------- 26 ------- 0
We Are One                 0 -------- 47 ------ 86
I Wanna Thank You      0 -------- 59 -------0


During 1984 Maze had 3 Personel Changes, Phillip Woo, Keyboards, was replaced by Wayne Linsey.
Billy Johnson,  Drums was replaced by Tony St James and Ron Smith, Guitar was replaced by Wayne Thomas, an Original Maze Member, who had left 4 years previous!

By March 1985 Maze Released their Last Studio for Capitol Records,  the Result was "Cant Stop The Love" This turned out to be their first Number 1  Album (also went Gold) and their first Number 1 Single " Back In Stride" on the US R&B Charts!

The Album Charted at Number 45 in US Pop and Number 41 in UK Charts, it contained 3 Singles (Chart Positions in brackets)

                                        US POP, US R&B , UK 
Back In Stride                     88---------1---------79
Too Many Games               103--------5---------36
I Want To Feel Im Wanted   0---------28---------0
       
By 1985  Maze were Recieving Great Promotional Support from UK Club DJ's including Robbie Vincent, and during May, they Sold Out The Hammersmith Odeon, for 8 Nights Running!

I Believe Maze have appeared at The Hammersmith Odeon about 27 Times in total!

Around this Period of time Maze were Falling out with Capitol Records, Frankie Beverly saw Groups such as Earth Wind and Fire, Commodores all having Crossover Success, while Capitol were seen as not Pushing Maze enough to have a Commercial Hit Record!

The Outcome was, Maze were Contracted to Record one more Album for Capitol, So to get around this,  Another Live Album was Recorded! 

This was Recorded in 1986 in Los Angeles, It contained 9 Tracks, but 5 Tracks were included on the previous Live Album of only 3 years ago! 

Apart from reaching Number 12 in US R&B Chart, other placings were modest to Mazes usual Standards!

It would be another 3 years before their next Album Release.

Download...... All of Maze's Albums!

Watch out for FSVB Mix this week (Thurs), its a Maze Special!