Black Merda
Encyclopedia
Black Merda is an American rock band
from Detroit, Michigan, active from the mid 1960s to the early 1970s and reuniting in 2005. They are considered to be the first all black rock band (6,7,10). The core band members are guitarist Anthony Hawkins (aka Wolf), bassist VC Lamont Veasey (aka Veesee, VC L Veasey, The Mighty V!), and guitarist Charles Hawkins (aka Charlie Hawk), plus original drummer Tyrone Hite. All were born in Mississippi (except Hite, born in Detroit) but came of age in Detroit.
, Golden World Studios, and producer Don Davis, while Hite worked in sessions originally as a singer before taking up the drums.
Hawkins, Veasey, and Hite originally performed together as the Impacts, backing up Gene Chandler
, Wilson Pickett
, The Spinners, The Artistics
, Billy Butler
, The Chi-Lites
, and other soul/R&B acts affiliated with Motown and Brunswick Records
. The Impacts were hired as the backing band for the 1965 single "Agent Double-O Soul" by Edwin Starr
. Starr took them on as his permanent backing unit and dubbed them the Soul Agents. A horn section consisting of Victor Stubblefield and Gus Hawkins worked with the group periodically during this period. By 1967 the Soul Agents had appeared on the subsequent Starr singles "Twenty Five Miles" and the seminal "War". Hawkins and Veasey (who had been writing songs together since they were 14 years old) also scored as songwriters in 1967 with "I Will Fear No Evil" by Robert Ward
(produced by Don Davis), the B-side of his hit "My Love Is Strictly Reserved For You."
Hawkins, Veasey, and Hite (while working with Starr) began to move away from the standard R&B sounds of the period and became heavily influenced by the hard rock sounds of Cream
, The Who
, and especially Jimi Hendrix
. Veasey had first learned of Hendrix from a Seattle newspaper story in 1966 while stationed with the military in Washington State. Veasey introduced Hawkins and Hite to the album Are You Experienced
, and the three were inspired to refashion themselves as a rock power trio in the mold of The Jimi Hendrix Experience
. Still known as the Soul Agents, in 1967 the trio cut what is believed to be the first cover of a Hendrix song on record, a rendition of "Foxy Lady
" that has become a rare collector's item.
During this period, Charles Hawkins (younger brother of Anthony) was added on second guitar to broaden the group’s sound. Another influence on the group’s new musical interests was the general shift in the R&B scene toward harder-edged soul and funk with socially-conscious lyrics.
in Detroit and in the south, Veasey wanted to choose a name that would be a shocking reminder to the public of how bad the situation was. The spelling was later changed to Black Merda as an African American slang spelling of the word "murder" while retaining the original theme.
Black Merda continued with Starr for a brief period, as well as backing The Temptations
in 1969, but began to view the R&B scene as passé compared to the experimental rock and funk music of Hendrix and other young artists. Regardless, Eddie Kendricks
of the Temptations expressed interest in producing Black Merda, and introduced them to like-minded singer Ellington "Fuji" Jordan. They collaborated with Fuji on his psychedelic funk song "Mary Don't Take Me on No Bad Trip," released by the Chess Records
subsidiary Cadet in 1968, which became a popular single in Detroit (though Black Merda did not receive credit on the record). A full album of songs by Fuji in collaboration with Black Merda was recorded but was not released until 2005, under the title Mary Don't Take Me on No Bad Trip from the TuffCity/Funky Delicacies record label. Fuji also introduced the band to Marshall Chess
of Chess Records, who was interested in broadening the label's well-known dedication to blues, soul, and jazz with more rock and experimental acts. Marshall Chess, familiar with the band's work on Fugi's Cadet release, signed Black Merda to the label on Fuji's recommendation alone.
Chess released Black Merda’s debut album
in 1970, and the band briefly became known as leaders among the burgeoning black rock and heavy funk scene that also included up-and-comers Funkadelic
and The Bar-Kays. The album suffered from a lack of promotion due to management changes at Chess Records. Disillusioned, the band moved to California to back Fuji once more, as well as Eric Burdon and War
. The band later returned to Detroit, but without Tyrone Hite, who decided to stay in California.
Black Merda began work on their second album without an official drummer, with session drummer Bob Crowder being hired just before recording. The album Long Burn the Fire
was released in 1972 by Chess subsidiary Janus Records, with only Veasey and the Hawkins brothers pictured on the sleeve. The band's name was changed to Mer-Da on the front cover of the album in an attempt at greater accessibility. The second album also suffered from poor promotion, and the band members later broke up and returned to more orthodox session work in soul and R&B.
, collecting all the songs from the two original albums, Black Merda and Long Burn the Fire. Thanks to the new attention brought by this compilation and a cult following that showed a growing interest in the obscure black rock of the early 1970s, the Hawkins brothers and Veasey reunited in 2005. (Hite had died in 2004). The reformed Black Merda has played at several festivals in Detroit and the surrounding region as well as New York's Central Park SummerStage concerts series and The Ottawa Blues Festival in 2006.
A compilation of rarities titled The Psych-funk of Black Merda was released in 2006. The band has since released the albums Renaissance (2006) and Force of Nature (2009).
The long-delayed appreciation for Black Merda's influence was further reflected in 2005 when rapperJa Rule
sampled their 1972 track Lying as the backing track for "Exodus Intro" on his Exodus
album. And again in 2007, when The Detroit MetroTimes named the 1970 track Cynthy-Ruth as one of The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever! Further recognition was garnered when Cynthy-Ruth was featured in the HBO documentary The Nine Lives Of Marion Barry which aired in August 2009. Kanye West
sampled Cynthy-Ruth for use in the track Teriya King on the 2009 album Serious Japanese
that he produced for Japanese rappers the Teriyaki Boyz
. The band was featured in the Spinner.com article In Living Color: 20 Important Black Rockers Past and Present (2010). Take A Little Time the single from the 2009 album Force Of Nature was featured on the Mojo Magazine compilation Heavy Soul (2010). Black Merda(1970), their self-titled debut album, was chosen as one of Detroit's greatest hits that should have been by The Detroit MetroTimes (November 10, 2010, Music Issue).
Singles
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from Detroit, Michigan, active from the mid 1960s to the early 1970s and reuniting in 2005. They are considered to be the first all black rock band (6,7,10). The core band members are guitarist Anthony Hawkins (aka Wolf), bassist VC Lamont Veasey (aka Veesee, VC L Veasey, The Mighty V!), and guitarist Charles Hawkins (aka Charlie Hawk), plus original drummer Tyrone Hite. All were born in Mississippi (except Hite, born in Detroit) but came of age in Detroit.
Early session and backup work
Anthony Hawkins and VC L. Veasey (born Roosevelt Veasey) met in elementary school. Hawkins and Tyrone Hite met in high school in Detroit in the early 1960s, and all worked as session and backup musicians in the Detroit scene in the following years. Hawkins and Veasey worked frequently as session musicians for companies such as Fortune RecordsFortune Records
Fortune Records was a family operated, independent record label located in Detroit, Michigan from 1946 to 1995. The label owners were Jack and Devora Brown, their son Sheldon Brown recorded for the label...
, Golden World Studios, and producer Don Davis, while Hite worked in sessions originally as a singer before taking up the drums.
Hawkins, Veasey, and Hite originally performed together as the Impacts, backing up Gene Chandler
Gene Chandler
Gene Chandler also known as "The Duke of Earl" or simply "The Duke", is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, producer and record executive. He is one of the leading exponents of the 1960s Chicago soul scene...
, Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
, The Spinners, The Artistics
The Artistics
The Artistics were an American R&B vocal group in the 1960s and early 1970s. Their biggest hit was "I'm Gonna Miss You", recorded in 1966.-Career:...
, Billy Butler
Billy Butler (singer)
Billy Butler is an American soul singer and songwriter active principally in the 1960s and early 1970s.Butler is Jerry Butler's younger brother. He formed the vocal group The Enchanters while at high school. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1963, and was produced initially by Curtis Mayfield...
, The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites are a Chicago-based smooth soul vocal quartet from the early 1970s, one of the few from the period not to come from Memphis or Philadelphia...
, and other soul/R&B acts affiliated with Motown and Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
. The Impacts were hired as the backing band for the 1965 single "Agent Double-O Soul" by Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
. Starr took them on as his permanent backing unit and dubbed them the Soul Agents. A horn section consisting of Victor Stubblefield and Gus Hawkins worked with the group periodically during this period. By 1967 the Soul Agents had appeared on the subsequent Starr singles "Twenty Five Miles" and the seminal "War". Hawkins and Veasey (who had been writing songs together since they were 14 years old) also scored as songwriters in 1967 with "I Will Fear No Evil" by Robert Ward
Robert Ward (blues musician)
Robert Ward was an American blues and soul guitarist. He was known for founding the Ohio Untouchables, the band that later would become the Ohio Players...
(produced by Don Davis), the B-side of his hit "My Love Is Strictly Reserved For You."
Hawkins, Veasey, and Hite (while working with Starr) began to move away from the standard R&B sounds of the period and became heavily influenced by the hard rock sounds of Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, and especially Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. Veasey had first learned of Hendrix from a Seattle newspaper story in 1966 while stationed with the military in Washington State. Veasey introduced Hawkins and Hite to the album Are You Experienced
Are You Experienced
Are You Experienced is the debut album by English/American rock band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Released in 1967, it was the first LP for Track Records...
, and the three were inspired to refashion themselves as a rock power trio in the mold of The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
. Still known as the Soul Agents, in 1967 the trio cut what is believed to be the first cover of a Hendrix song on record, a rendition of "Foxy Lady
Foxy Lady
"Foxy Lady" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from their 1967 album Are You Experienced. It can also be found on a number of Hendrix's greatest hits compilations, including Smash Hits and Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix...
" that has become a rare collector's item.
During this period, Charles Hawkins (younger brother of Anthony) was added on second guitar to broaden the group’s sound. Another influence on the group’s new musical interests was the general shift in the R&B scene toward harder-edged soul and funk with socially-conscious lyrics.
As Black Merda
Now a quartet with the addition of Charles Hawkins, the band continued working with Edwin Starr as the Soul Agents, with Starr approving of the change in sound to guitar-based psychedelic rock and funk. But in 1968 they decided to craft a new identity as a self-contained rock band. After considering the name Murder Incorporated after a notorious criminal organization, the band settled on Black Murder (suggested by Veasey) as a comment on the rampant inner-city violence experienced by many African Americans during that period. Considering that many young black people were at that time being killed by the police and the Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
in Detroit and in the south, Veasey wanted to choose a name that would be a shocking reminder to the public of how bad the situation was. The spelling was later changed to Black Merda as an African American slang spelling of the word "murder" while retaining the original theme.
Black Merda continued with Starr for a brief period, as well as backing The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
in 1969, but began to view the R&B scene as passé compared to the experimental rock and funk music of Hendrix and other young artists. Regardless, Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
of the Temptations expressed interest in producing Black Merda, and introduced them to like-minded singer Ellington "Fuji" Jordan. They collaborated with Fuji on his psychedelic funk song "Mary Don't Take Me on No Bad Trip," released by the Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
subsidiary Cadet in 1968, which became a popular single in Detroit (though Black Merda did not receive credit on the record). A full album of songs by Fuji in collaboration with Black Merda was recorded but was not released until 2005, under the title Mary Don't Take Me on No Bad Trip from the TuffCity/Funky Delicacies record label. Fuji also introduced the band to Marshall Chess
Marshall Chess
Marshall Chess is the son and nephew of the founders of Chess Records, the Chicago-based independent record label that first recorded an unprecedented list of African-American, blues and early rock and roll artists such as: Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy...
of Chess Records, who was interested in broadening the label's well-known dedication to blues, soul, and jazz with more rock and experimental acts. Marshall Chess, familiar with the band's work on Fugi's Cadet release, signed Black Merda to the label on Fuji's recommendation alone.
Chess released Black Merda’s debut album
Black Merda (album)
Black Merda is the self-titled debut album by the Detroit rock band Black Merda. It was released in 1970 by Chess Records. The original album was long out of print before being reissued on CD by TuffCity Records in 1996. All of the album’s tracks are also collected on the 2005 Black Merda...
in 1970, and the band briefly became known as leaders among the burgeoning black rock and heavy funk scene that also included up-and-comers Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
and The Bar-Kays. The album suffered from a lack of promotion due to management changes at Chess Records. Disillusioned, the band moved to California to back Fuji once more, as well as Eric Burdon and War
War (band)
War is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae...
. The band later returned to Detroit, but without Tyrone Hite, who decided to stay in California.
Black Merda began work on their second album without an official drummer, with session drummer Bob Crowder being hired just before recording. The album Long Burn the Fire
Long Burn the Fire
Long Burn the Fire is the second studio album by the Detroit rock band Black Merda. The band’s name was altered to Mer-Da on the album’s front cover. It was released by Chess Records subsidiary Janus in 1972. The album sleeve features only guitarists Anthony and Charles Hawkins and bassist VC L....
was released in 1972 by Chess subsidiary Janus Records, with only Veasey and the Hawkins brothers pictured on the sleeve. The band's name was changed to Mer-Da on the front cover of the album in an attempt at greater accessibility. The second album also suffered from poor promotion, and the band members later broke up and returned to more orthodox session work in soul and R&B.
Reunion
In 2005, the Funky Delicacies label released the compilation disc The Folks From Mother's MixerThe Folks From Mother's Mixer
The Folks from Mother’s Mixer is a compilation of tracks recorded in the early 1970s by the band Black Merda. It was released in 2005 and collects all the tracks from the band’s two original albums, Black Merda and Long Burn the Fire ....
, collecting all the songs from the two original albums, Black Merda and Long Burn the Fire. Thanks to the new attention brought by this compilation and a cult following that showed a growing interest in the obscure black rock of the early 1970s, the Hawkins brothers and Veasey reunited in 2005. (Hite had died in 2004). The reformed Black Merda has played at several festivals in Detroit and the surrounding region as well as New York's Central Park SummerStage concerts series and The Ottawa Blues Festival in 2006.
A compilation of rarities titled The Psych-funk of Black Merda was released in 2006. The band has since released the albums Renaissance (2006) and Force of Nature (2009).
The long-delayed appreciation for Black Merda's influence was further reflected in 2005 when rapperJa Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
sampled their 1972 track Lying as the backing track for "Exodus Intro" on his Exodus
Exodus (Ja Rule album)
Exodus is a 2005 compilation album by rapper Ja Rule. He had released an album every year since 1999, but in 2005, with no new album planned The Inc. released this greatest hits album featuring songs such as "Mesmerize" and "Wonderful"....
album. And again in 2007, when The Detroit MetroTimes named the 1970 track Cynthy-Ruth as one of The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever! Further recognition was garnered when Cynthy-Ruth was featured in the HBO documentary The Nine Lives Of Marion Barry which aired in August 2009. Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
sampled Cynthy-Ruth for use in the track Teriya King on the 2009 album Serious Japanese
Serious Japanese
Serious Japanese is the second album released by Japanese hip-hop group Teriyaki Boyz. It was released on January 28, 2009 in Japan by Star Trak Entertainment, and on February 3, 2009 worldwide.-Track listing:...
that he produced for Japanese rappers the Teriyaki Boyz
Teriyaki Boyz
Teriyaki Boyz is a Japanese hip hop group from Tokyo, Japan. The group consists of Ilmari and Ryo-Z from Rip Slyme, Verbal from M-Flo, rapper Wise and Nigo, the DJ and founder of the popular Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape...
. The band was featured in the Spinner.com article In Living Color: 20 Important Black Rockers Past and Present (2010). Take A Little Time the single from the 2009 album Force Of Nature was featured on the Mojo Magazine compilation Heavy Soul (2010). Black Merda(1970), their self-titled debut album, was chosen as one of Detroit's greatest hits that should have been by The Detroit MetroTimes (November 10, 2010, Music Issue).
Discography
Albums- Black MerdaBlack Merda (album)Black Merda is the self-titled debut album by the Detroit rock band Black Merda. It was released in 1970 by Chess Records. The original album was long out of print before being reissued on CD by TuffCity Records in 1996. All of the album’s tracks are also collected on the 2005 Black Merda...
(Chess, 1970; reissued by Funky Delicacies, 1996) - Long Burn the FireLong Burn the FireLong Burn the Fire is the second studio album by the Detroit rock band Black Merda. The band’s name was altered to Mer-Da on the album’s front cover. It was released by Chess Records subsidiary Janus in 1972. The album sleeve features only guitarists Anthony and Charles Hawkins and bassist VC L....
(Janus, 1972; reissued by Funky Delicacies, 1996) - The Folks From Mother's MixerThe Folks From Mother's MixerThe Folks from Mother’s Mixer is a compilation of tracks recorded in the early 1970s by the band Black Merda. It was released in 2005 and collects all the tracks from the band’s two original albums, Black Merda and Long Burn the Fire ....
(Funky Delicacies, 2005; compilation) - Mary Don't Take Me On No Bad Trip Fugi featuring Black Merda (Funky Delicacies, 2005)
- The Psych-funk of Black Merda (Funky Delicacies, 2006; rarities)
- Renaissance (Black Merda LLC, 2006)
- Force of Nature (Vampi Soul, 2009)
Singles
- "Foxy LadyFoxy Lady"Foxy Lady" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from their 1967 album Are You Experienced. It can also be found on a number of Hendrix's greatest hits compilations, including Smash Hits and Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix...
" The Soul Agents (precursor to Black Merda, 1968) - "Mary Don't Take Me On No Bad Trip," Fugi featuring Black Merda (Cadet, 1969)
- "Cynthy-Ruth/Reality (Chess 1970)
- "Prophet/Cynthy-Ruth (Chess 1970)
- "Revelations," Fugi featuring Black Merda (Cadet, 1970)
- "Red Moon," Fugi featuring Black Merda (Grand Junction, 1971)
- "Take a Little Time," (Vampi Soul, 2009)