Darondo
Encyclopedia
William Pulliam, who performed in the 70s under the name Darondo, was a funk and soul singer who sounded like a combination of Ronald Isley
and Al Green
. Little known by anyone except serious enthusiasts of that genre, Darondo is highly respected by that limited audience. The mythology surrounding Darondo is that he was a pimp
, although he denies this claim. Still living in the San Francisco Bay area, Darondo has received considerably more attention in recent years thanks to London
DJ Gilles Peterson
playing his 1973 single, "Didn't I" on his BBC Radio 1
program.
Darondo recorded three singles and played four shows in the ’70s, and then stopped and drove home in his Rolls Royce
after he opened for James Brown
. Later he traveled the world collecting interesting artifacts, became the king of Bay Area cable with three shows per day, and worked as a physical therapist coaxing patients to walk again.
Three singles recorded during the early 1970s were re-released on Luv N Haight, an imprint label of Ubiquity Records
in 2006.
In 2008 Darondo's song "Didn't I" was featured on an episode (season 1, episode 4) of Breaking Bad
. In 2009, the song "Legs" was featured in an episode (season 1, episode 8) of the American version of Life on Mars
. In 2010, "Didn't I" was featured in the films Night Catches Us
and Jack Goes Boating
.
Ronald Isley
Ronald Isley is an American singer and is known as the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.-Career:...
and Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
. Little known by anyone except serious enthusiasts of that genre, Darondo is highly respected by that limited audience. The mythology surrounding Darondo is that he was a pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
, although he denies this claim. Still living in the San Francisco Bay area, Darondo has received considerably more attention in recent years thanks to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
DJ Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson , is a DJ, record collector and record label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin' Loud, and latterly Brownswood Recordings, he has been associated with the careers of well-known artists of the 1990s such as Erykah Badu, Roni Size and Jamiroquai...
playing his 1973 single, "Didn't I" on his BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
program.
Darondo recorded three singles and played four shows in the ’70s, and then stopped and drove home in his Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
after he opened for James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. Later he traveled the world collecting interesting artifacts, became the king of Bay Area cable with three shows per day, and worked as a physical therapist coaxing patients to walk again.
Three singles recorded during the early 1970s were re-released on Luv N Haight, an imprint label of Ubiquity Records
Ubiquity Records
Ubiquity Records is an American music label that focuses on funk, rare groove, soul, and hip hop and other musical genres. It is located in Costa Mesa, California and has a satellite office based in San Francisco, California...
in 2006.
In 2008 Darondo's song "Didn't I" was featured on an episode (season 1, episode 4) of Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
. In 2009, the song "Legs" was featured in an episode (season 1, episode 8) of the American version of Life on Mars
Life on Mars (U.S. TV series)
Life on Mars was a science fiction crime drama television series which originally aired on ABC from October 9, 2008 to April 1, 2009. It is an adaptation of the BAFTA-winning original UK series of the same name produced by the BBC...
. In 2010, "Didn't I" was featured in the films Night Catches Us
Night Catches Us
Night Catches Us is a 2010 drama film directed and written by Tanya Hamilton and stars Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie, Jamie Hector, Wendell Pierce and Novella Nelson.-Plot:...
and Jack Goes Boating
Jack Goes Boating (film)
Jack Goes Boating is a 2010 romantic comedy film from Overture Films and Relativity Media. Philip Seymour Hoffman makes his directorial debut as he stars alongside Amy Ryan, John Ortiz, and Daphne Rubin-Vega. The film's script was adapted by Robert Glaudini from the 2007 play entitled Jack Goes...
.
Discography
- "Let my People Go", Ubiquity RecordsUbiquity RecordsUbiquity Records is an American music label that focuses on funk, rare groove, soul, and hip hop and other musical genres. It is located in Costa Mesa, California and has a satellite office based in San Francisco, California...
, 2006 - "Listen to my Song, the Music City sessions", Omnivore Recordings, 2011
External links
- Darondo at Ubiquity RecordsUbiquity RecordsUbiquity Records is an American music label that focuses on funk, rare groove, soul, and hip hop and other musical genres. It is located in Costa Mesa, California and has a satellite office based in San Francisco, California...
- Let My People Go LP on Ubiquity RecordsUbiquity RecordsUbiquity Records is an American music label that focuses on funk, rare groove, soul, and hip hop and other musical genres. It is located in Costa Mesa, California and has a satellite office based in San Francisco, California...
- NPR SXSW Artists to Watch
- March 2008 interview with L.A. RecordL.A. RecordL.A. Record is an independent music magazine originally published weekly as a broadsheet poster. The poster usually depicts a local Los Angeles musicians and according to the magazine editors is meant to recreate an iconic album cover. In March 2008, it began publishing as a monthly magazine with a...
- Live Photos @ Detroit Bar (June 2008)