Earl Young (drummer)
Encyclopedia
Earl Young is a Philadelphia-based drummer
who rose to prominence in the early 1970s as part of the Philly Soul sound. Young is best known as the founder and leader of The Trammps
who had a hit record with "Disco Inferno
". Young, along with Ronnie Baker
and Norman Harris
, was the owner of the Golden Fleece record label
. Young is seen as the inventor of the disco
style of rock drumming (in Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
's "The Love I Lost
" from 1973), as he was the first to make extensive and distinctive use of the Hi Hat cymbal throughout the playing time of an R & B recording. This is turn led to DJ's favoring his recordings because they could hear the cymbal quite easily in their headphones as they "cued up" records to be mixed. Young would feature prominently on many Gamble and Huff
recordings before moving on to Salsoul Records
as part of the house band for the label. He recorded extensively at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios
.
In 1989, newcomers Ten City
would seek out Young to work on their debut album for the House Music
scene, and even commissioned Young for remix
ing of some of the material as well as session drumming.
In September 2008, Young joined some other ex MFSB musicians on the Carl Dixon/Bobby Eli
session at Eli's 'Studio E' in Philadelphia where four new songs were cut. The rhythm section included Earl Young; Bobby Eli; Dennis Harris (guitar), the cousin of Philly guitarist Norman Harris
; Jimmy Williams (bass guitar); T Conway (keyboards); and Rikki Hicks (percussion). Vocalists on the session were Philly harmony group 'Double Exposure
' performing 'Soul Recession', and Chiquita Green.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
who rose to prominence in the early 1970s as part of the Philly Soul sound. Young is best known as the founder and leader of The Trammps
The Trammps
The Trammps were an American disco band, who were based in Philadelphia and were one of the first disco bands. The band's first major success was with their 1972 cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart". The first disco track they released was "Love Epidemic" in 1973...
who had a hit record with "Disco Inferno
Disco Inferno
Disco Inferno is a song by The Trammps.Disco Inferno can also refer to:* Disco Inferno , a 1976 disco album recorded by The Trammps featuring the song* Disco Inferno , a band formed in the late 1980s...
". Young, along with Ronnie Baker
Ronnie Baker
Ronnie Baker was a famous record producer, bassist, arranger and songwriter. He participated on many Gamble and Huff recordings and was one-third of the production team of Baker-Harris-Young. He was one of The Trammps, who had a #5 UK/#35 US hit with Hold Back The Night....
and Norman Harris
Norman Harris
Norman Harris was an American guitarist, producer, arranger and songwriter associated with Philly soul. He was a founding member of MFSB and one-third of the production trio of Baker-Harris-Young...
, was the owner of the Golden Fleece record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Young is seen as the inventor of the disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
style of rock drumming (in Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American singing group, one of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco...
's "The Love I Lost
The Love I Lost
"The Love I Lost" is a soul/disco song by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Originally written as a ballad by Philly soul songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the song was transformed into a disco song. It was released from the Black & Blue album in late 1973...
" from 1973), as he was the first to make extensive and distinctive use of the Hi Hat cymbal throughout the playing time of an R & B recording. This is turn led to DJ's favoring his recordings because they could hear the cymbal quite easily in their headphones as they "cued up" records to be mixed. Young would feature prominently on many Gamble and Huff
Gamble and Huff
Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff are an American songwriting and record production team who have written and produced over 170 gold and platinum records. They were pioneers of Philadelphia soul and the in-house creative team for the Philadelphia International record label...
recordings before moving on to Salsoul Records
Salsoul Records
This article is about the record label. For SalSoul the Puerto Rican Salsa radio station see Cadena Salsoul.Salsoul Records was a New York City based record label founded by brothers Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre . Salsoul released about 300 disco 12-inch singles, and a string of...
as part of the house band for the label. He recorded extensively at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios is an American music recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia in 1968.Located at 212 N. 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording and the first in the country to use console...
.
In 1989, newcomers Ten City
Ten City
Ten City was a Chicago, Illinois-based R&B and house-music act that enjoyed a number of club hits and Urban radio hits in the late Eighties and early Nineties and was one of the first exponents of deep house...
would seek out Young to work on their debut album for the House Music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
scene, and even commissioned Young for remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ing of some of the material as well as session drumming.
In September 2008, Young joined some other ex MFSB musicians on the Carl Dixon/Bobby Eli
Bobby Eli
Bobby Eli is a Grammy Award winning musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia, USA. He is a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio group MFSB.-Biography:...
session at Eli's 'Studio E' in Philadelphia where four new songs were cut. The rhythm section included Earl Young; Bobby Eli; Dennis Harris (guitar), the cousin of Philly guitarist Norman Harris
Norman Harris
Norman Harris was an American guitarist, producer, arranger and songwriter associated with Philly soul. He was a founding member of MFSB and one-third of the production trio of Baker-Harris-Young...
; Jimmy Williams (bass guitar); T Conway (keyboards); and Rikki Hicks (percussion). Vocalists on the session were Philly harmony group 'Double Exposure
Double Exposure
Double exposure is a photographic technique in which two images are captured and combined into a single image.Double exposure may also refer to:* Double patterning, a technique for improving the resolution of patterning semiconductors...
' performing 'Soul Recession', and Chiquita Green.
External links
- [ Earl Young] at Allmusic