Phenix Horns
Encyclopedia
are Earth, Wind & Fire
, Phil Collins
and Genesis
's brass
main section
. The four members were Don Myrick
on saxophone
s, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone
, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet
and Michael Harris on trumpet
.
and Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield and Michael Davis recorded in the early 70s with the formation, The Pharaohs
, from which two albums have been re-issued on CD which are The Awakening
recorded in 1971 and a live album In the Basement
recorded in 1972.
, in the process of embarking on a solo career after working in the Ramsey Lewis Trio, met Satterfield while doing some early recordings at Chicago's Chess Studios. Satterfield was working primarily as a session bassist at the time, his most memorable contribution being the bassline to Fontella Bass
's Rescue Me
. White's brother Verdine
soon joined the fledgling group on bass, and Maurice expanded the band's timbral palette to include horns. Satterfield's bandmates from The Pharaohs, saxophonist Don Myrick
and trumpeter Rahmlee Michael Davis, joined the group, along with lead trumpet player Michael Harris
and featured flautist/saxophonist Ronnie Laws
(Laws's role was often separate from that of the horn section itself, as he was called upon to provide a solo voice rather than serve exclusively in a supporting role).
It was Harris's unique control and precision in the instrument's upper register that helped define the section's sound. The group was less beholden to middle register three and four-part harmonies (the trademark of Chicago
's Lee Loughnane
, Walter Parazaider
, and Jimmy Pankow), instead favoring a more staccato
, rhythmic, borderline percussive approach similar to the sound being popularized by trumpeter/arranger Greg Adams in Tower Of Power
(though notably excluding the contrapuntal baritone saxophone spits favored by Adams, obviously in deference to the three horn, sax-centric sound of James Brown). This sound was ideally suited for Maurice's increasingly dance-oriented songs. 1974's "Mighty Mighty
" from Open Our Eyes
provides an early example (as well as a rare glimpse of Myrick's considerable facility on the soprano saxophone
, an instrument noted for being inherently difficult to play in tune). The culmination of this sound, however, is best exemplified by 1978's "September", which prominently features a fast-moving unison line played in three octaves (Satterfield in the lower octave, Myrick and Davis doubling in the middle octave, and Harris in the upper octave) - for Satterfield and Harris, the line is in a difficult part of their respective instruments' upper registers, and the extreme precision is a testimony to both players' virtuosity.
The section also developed a unique approach to ballads. Davis and Harris doubled on the fluegelhorn, an instrument with roughly the same range as the trumpet but with a considerably softer, warmer timbre (the flugel was a favorite texture of many jazz trumpeters, notably Clark Terry, Art Farmer and Freddie Hubbard). The softer palette created by the blend of the two fluegels with Myrick's tenor sax and Satterfield's trombone allowed the section to still play interesting countermelodies and staccato jabs (listen to the post-chorus instrumental breaks of Reasons for a prime example) without being obtrusive or overbearing.
Myrick was also developing a distinctive solo voice. Though Laws and later Andrew Woolfolk, Laws's replacement, were intended to play the featured instrumentalist role in the band's live shows, Myrick eventually won over some of those duties for himself. He was particularly adept on the alto saxophone, distinctly demonstrating the influence of soul-influenced bebop
saxophonist Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley. His tour de force is the burning, passionate solo on the 1979 single "After The Love Has Gone
".
1979 saw the arrival and almost immediate departure of third trumpet Elmar Brown. Aside from the recording of the album I Am
, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that Brown had any career as a musician either before or after this brief stint.
drummer Phil Collins
and producer Hugh Padgham
in the studio for the recording of Collins's debut solo album, Face Value. Five of the musically diverse album's 12 tracks featured horns, with a sixth (a rendition of the Beatles's Tomorrow Never Knows) featuring electronically manipulated samples of the section. The group's (and in particular Harris's) extreme precision was put to good use in up-tempo numbers like "Behind the Lines" and the mostly instrumental "Hand In Hand". Myrick's lyrical alto playing is featured prominently on "If Leaving Me Is Easy
", as are Harris's and Davis's signature fluegelhorn lines. The section also joined Collins's band Genesis on the song "No Reply at All
" on their album Abacab
, as well as on "Paperlate
", a song from the band's EP 3 X 3
which was also included on the U.S. release of the album Three Sides Live
.
The foursome developed a strong kinship with Collins and elected to join him on tour and for the recording of subsequent albums, while still performing and recording with EWF intermittently. 1982's Hello, I Must Be Going!
saw a feature instrumental piece, "The West Side," penned for Myrick by Collins. Early concert footage shows the section doing considerably more than playing their instruments. Prior to 1989 Collins did not use dedicated backing vocalists in his live band, relying instead on instrumentalists. While guitarist Daryl Stuermer and bassists Jon Giblin and Leland Sklar sing sporadically, the horn section sings and plays percussion on virtually every song that does not feature horns. During the extended intro to "Hand In Hand", the foursome join Collins at the front of the stage for a vocal call and response. Harris also contributed a brief co-lead vocal on the closing number, a rendition of the Isley Brothers's "It's Alright". Additionally, Satterfield played baritone saxophone to brighten the section's sound for certain parts.
Following the 1985/'86 tour, Michael Harris departed the group and was replaced by Harry Kim. The horn section saw a diminished role in the live show. Collins began employing backing vocalists and occasionally dedicated percussionists. Following the 1990 live album/video Serious Hits… Live!
Don Myrick also departed, largely due to continued struggles with drug addiction. Myrick was shot to death by the LAPD in the doorway of his home in 1993. He was replaced by erstwhile EWF co-saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk. By the time of the recording of 1996's Dance into the Light
, the Phenix Horns had dissolved. They were replaced by the Vine Street Horns, featuring Phenix Horns replacements Woolfolk and Harry Kim along with 2nd trumpet Daniel Fornero and trombonist Arturo Velasco.
Rahmlee Michael Davis ultimately resumed a career as a solo jazz artist and occasional sideman/session player. Louis Satterfield returned to performing until his death in 2004. Don Myrick is buried in the Inglewood Park Cemetery
in Inglewood/Los Angeles, across the street from The Forum
, former home of the LA Lakers. Kim and Woolfolk still do session work with Fornero and Velasco under the Vine Street Horns moniker. Ronnie Laws performs primarily as a solo jazz artist. Michael Harris has been recently touring with
Al McKay All Stars, performing classic Earth Wind & Fire hits. No information is available on Elmar Brown.
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
's brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
main section
Horn section
In music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
. The four members were Don Myrick
Don Myrick
Don Myrick was a saxophonist.He played alto, tenor and soprano sax and was a member of Earth Wind & Fire's original horn section, The Phenix Horns Esq. from 1975 through 1982. Previously, Myrick had been a member of the musical group The Pharaohs...
on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and Michael Harris on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
.
The Pharaohs
Don MyrickDon Myrick
Don Myrick was a saxophonist.He played alto, tenor and soprano sax and was a member of Earth Wind & Fire's original horn section, The Phenix Horns Esq. from 1975 through 1982. Previously, Myrick had been a member of the musical group The Pharaohs...
and Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield and Michael Davis recorded in the early 70s with the formation, The Pharaohs
The Pharaohs
The Pharaohs, an American soul/jazz/funk group, were formed in 1962 out of a student band, The Jazzmen, at Crane Junior College in Chicago, Illinois. This early incarnation comprised Louis Satterfield on trombone, Charles Handy on trumpet, and Don Myrick on alto saxophone. They were joined by Fred...
, from which two albums have been re-issued on CD which are The Awakening
The Awakening (The Pharaohs album)
Awakening is an album by The Pharaohs which was originally released in 1972 on Scarab Records, Chicago.It was reissued by Luv N' Haight Records in 1996.- Track listing :# Damballa Satterfield 7:50...
recorded in 1971 and a live album In the Basement
In the Basement
In the Basement is a live album by The Pharaohs which was released on the Luv N' Haight record label in 1996.-Track listing:#In the Basement [live] Pharaohs, Whitehead 10:50...
recorded in 1972.
Formation
The inception of the group came about through a pair of connections centered around Louis Satterfield. Maurice WhiteMaurice White
Maurice White is a Grammy Award–winning American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger. He is the older brother of Verdine White and Fred White and the leader and founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire...
, in the process of embarking on a solo career after working in the Ramsey Lewis Trio, met Satterfield while doing some early recordings at Chicago's Chess Studios. Satterfield was working primarily as a session bassist at the time, his most memorable contribution being the bassline to Fontella Bass
Fontella Bass
Fontella Bass is an American soul singer, who is best known for the 1965 R&B hit "Rescue Me", which she also co-wrote.-Early life:...
's Rescue Me
Rescue Me (Fontella Bass song)
"Rescue Me" is a song written by Fontella Bass, Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith. In 1965, it was released as a single by Fontella Bass. It would prove the biggest hit of Bass' career, reaching #1 on the R&B charts for four weeks and placing at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100...
. White's brother Verdine
Verdine White
Verdine White is the bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire and the younger brother of fellow band member Maurice White. White is known for his high energy and dancing while playing his bass guitar during Earth, Wind & Fire concerts.-Early life:...
soon joined the fledgling group on bass, and Maurice expanded the band's timbral palette to include horns. Satterfield's bandmates from The Pharaohs, saxophonist Don Myrick
Don Myrick
Don Myrick was a saxophonist.He played alto, tenor and soprano sax and was a member of Earth Wind & Fire's original horn section, The Phenix Horns Esq. from 1975 through 1982. Previously, Myrick had been a member of the musical group The Pharaohs...
and trumpeter Rahmlee Michael Davis, joined the group, along with lead trumpet player Michael Harris
Michael Harris (trumpeter)
Trumpet player in the Phenix Horns, which played for Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins.- References :...
and featured flautist/saxophonist Ronnie Laws
Ronnie Laws
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws is an American jazz, blues and funk saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws.-Biography:...
(Laws's role was often separate from that of the horn section itself, as he was called upon to provide a solo voice rather than serve exclusively in a supporting role).
It was Harris's unique control and precision in the instrument's upper register that helped define the section's sound. The group was less beholden to middle register three and four-part harmonies (the trademark of Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
's Lee Loughnane
Lee Loughnane
Lee Loughnane , born 21 October 1946 in Elmwood Park, Illinois to Juanita Wall and Philip Louis Loughnane, is an American trumpeter, flugelhorn player, vocalist, and songwriter, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago.- Biography :...
, Walter Parazaider
Walter Parazaider
Walter Parazaider is best known for being a founding member and saxophone player for the rock band Chicago. He also plays the flute and other woodwind instruments in the band, including clarinet. On the hit "You're Not Alone," he played backing rhythm guitar.Parazaider began playing the clarinet...
, and Jimmy Pankow), instead favoring a more staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
, rhythmic, borderline percussive approach similar to the sound being popularized by trumpeter/arranger Greg Adams in Tower Of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
(though notably excluding the contrapuntal baritone saxophone spits favored by Adams, obviously in deference to the three horn, sax-centric sound of James Brown). This sound was ideally suited for Maurice's increasingly dance-oriented songs. 1974's "Mighty Mighty
Mighty Mighty (song)
"Mighty Mighty" is a song by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire which was written by Maurice White and Verdine White. It was released in 1974 as a single and included on the band's 1974 album, Open Our Eyes....
" from Open Our Eyes
Open Our Eyes
Open Our Eyes is the fifth studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1974 on Columbia Records. The album went to number one on the R&B Charts and number 15 on the Pop Charts. Open Our Eyes contained the Billboard charting singles, "Mighty Mighty" , "Devotion" , "Kalimba Story"...
provides an early example (as well as a rare glimpse of Myrick's considerable facility on the soprano saxophone
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
, an instrument noted for being inherently difficult to play in tune). The culmination of this sound, however, is best exemplified by 1978's "September", which prominently features a fast-moving unison line played in three octaves (Satterfield in the lower octave, Myrick and Davis doubling in the middle octave, and Harris in the upper octave) - for Satterfield and Harris, the line is in a difficult part of their respective instruments' upper registers, and the extreme precision is a testimony to both players' virtuosity.
The section also developed a unique approach to ballads. Davis and Harris doubled on the fluegelhorn, an instrument with roughly the same range as the trumpet but with a considerably softer, warmer timbre (the flugel was a favorite texture of many jazz trumpeters, notably Clark Terry, Art Farmer and Freddie Hubbard). The softer palette created by the blend of the two fluegels with Myrick's tenor sax and Satterfield's trombone allowed the section to still play interesting countermelodies and staccato jabs (listen to the post-chorus instrumental breaks of Reasons for a prime example) without being obtrusive or overbearing.
Myrick was also developing a distinctive solo voice. Though Laws and later Andrew Woolfolk, Laws's replacement, were intended to play the featured instrumentalist role in the band's live shows, Myrick eventually won over some of those duties for himself. He was particularly adept on the alto saxophone, distinctly demonstrating the influence of soul-influenced bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
saxophonist Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley. His tour de force is the burning, passionate solo on the 1979 single "After The Love Has Gone
After the Love Has Gone
"After the Love Has Gone" is a 1979 hit single for Earth, Wind & Fire, written by David Foster, Jay Graydon, and Bill Champlin for the album I Am. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.-Reception:...
".
1979 saw the arrival and almost immediate departure of third trumpet Elmar Brown. Aside from the recording of the album I Am
I Am (Earth, Wind & Fire album)
I Am is the ninth studio album by the R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1979 on Columbia Records. The album features the singles "Boogie Wonderland" with The Emotions and "After the Love Has Gone". Also recorded in the I Am sessions were "September" and "Love Music" which were both included...
, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that Brown had any career as a musician either before or after this brief stint.
Collaboration with Phil Collins
In 1981, the foursome joined GenesisGenesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
drummer Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
and producer Hugh Padgham
Hugh Padgham
Hugh Padgham is a British record producer. He has won many awards, including four Grammys, with Producer of the Year and Engineer of the Year. A 1992 poll in Mix magazine voted him one of the world's Top Ten Most Influential Producers....
in the studio for the recording of Collins's debut solo album, Face Value. Five of the musically diverse album's 12 tracks featured horns, with a sixth (a rendition of the Beatles's Tomorrow Never Knows) featuring electronically manipulated samples of the section. The group's (and in particular Harris's) extreme precision was put to good use in up-tempo numbers like "Behind the Lines" and the mostly instrumental "Hand In Hand". Myrick's lyrical alto playing is featured prominently on "If Leaving Me Is Easy
If Leaving Me Is Easy
"If Leaving Me Is Easy" is a song by Phil Collins from his 1981 album Face Value. Released as the third single from the album, it reached #17 in the UK, but was never released as a single in the United States. It is notable mainly for Collins' high falsetto lyrics in its chorus.-Involvement of Eric...
", as are Harris's and Davis's signature fluegelhorn lines. The section also joined Collins's band Genesis on the song "No Reply at All
No Reply at All
"No Reply at All" is a song by British band Genesis, from their 1981 album Abacab.-Structure:This song, like Phil Collins' solo track "I Missed Again" , makes prominent use of a horn section, arranged by Tom Tom 84 "No Reply at All" is a song by British band Genesis, from their 1981 album...
" on their album Abacab
Abacab
Abacab, released in 1981, is the 11th studio album by British band Genesis. It reached No.1 in the UK, where it remained in the charts for 27 weeks.-Background and recording:...
, as well as on "Paperlate
Paperlate
"Paperlate" was the lead song from the second of two EPs by the British rock group Genesis. The EP, titled 3 X 3 , peaked at #10 on the album charts in mid-1982. The success of the EP led to an appearance on Top of the Pops...
", a song from the band's EP 3 X 3
3 X 3
The response to the album was mixed. Dave Thompson of Allmusic gives it three stars out of five, citing "Paperlate" as the EP's selling point. Thompson describes "Paperlate" as "a horn-honking romp with just the ghosts of '60s soul playing around its chorus and a buoyancy that fed readily into the...
which was also included on the U.S. release of the album Three Sides Live
Three Sides Live
Three Sides Live is the third live album by British Progressive Rock band Genesis, released in 1982.-History:The title for this album comes from the original world release, which contained three sides of live material from the band's 1981-82 tour, and a fourth side of studio tracks, three of which...
.
The foursome developed a strong kinship with Collins and elected to join him on tour and for the recording of subsequent albums, while still performing and recording with EWF intermittently. 1982's Hello, I Must Be Going!
Hello, I Must Be Going! (album)
Hello, I Must Be Going! is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was originally released 1 November 1982. This album's name comes from the Marx Brothers' song with the same name, featured in the movie Animal Crackers...
saw a feature instrumental piece, "The West Side," penned for Myrick by Collins. Early concert footage shows the section doing considerably more than playing their instruments. Prior to 1989 Collins did not use dedicated backing vocalists in his live band, relying instead on instrumentalists. While guitarist Daryl Stuermer and bassists Jon Giblin and Leland Sklar sing sporadically, the horn section sings and plays percussion on virtually every song that does not feature horns. During the extended intro to "Hand In Hand", the foursome join Collins at the front of the stage for a vocal call and response. Harris also contributed a brief co-lead vocal on the closing number, a rendition of the Isley Brothers's "It's Alright". Additionally, Satterfield played baritone saxophone to brighten the section's sound for certain parts.
Following the 1985/'86 tour, Michael Harris departed the group and was replaced by Harry Kim. The horn section saw a diminished role in the live show. Collins began employing backing vocalists and occasionally dedicated percussionists. Following the 1990 live album/video Serious Hits… Live!
Serious Hits… Live!
Serious Hits... Live! is the name of Phil Collins' 1990 live album with a CD as well as the DVD video recording of that concert. The songs on the CD version are taken from various concerts during the Serious Hits! tour, though it sounds as if the CD was recorded over one entire...
Don Myrick also departed, largely due to continued struggles with drug addiction. Myrick was shot to death by the LAPD in the doorway of his home in 1993. He was replaced by erstwhile EWF co-saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk. By the time of the recording of 1996's Dance into the Light
Dance into the Light
Dance into the Light is the sixth solo album by Phil Collins released in 1996. it was notable for being the first album that Collins released as a full-time solo artist, having left Genesis earlier that year.-History:...
, the Phenix Horns had dissolved. They were replaced by the Vine Street Horns, featuring Phenix Horns replacements Woolfolk and Harry Kim along with 2nd trumpet Daniel Fornero and trombonist Arturo Velasco.
Breakup of the group
Band leader Don Myrick was killed in 1993. Louis Satterfield died in 2004.Rahmlee Michael Davis ultimately resumed a career as a solo jazz artist and occasional sideman/session player. Louis Satterfield returned to performing until his death in 2004. Don Myrick is buried in the Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
in Inglewood/Los Angeles, across the street from The Forum
The Forum (Inglewood, California)
The Forum is an indoor arena, in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. From 2000 to 2010, it was owned by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which occasionally used it for church services, while also leasing the building for sporting events, concerts and other events.Along with Madison...
, former home of the LA Lakers. Kim and Woolfolk still do session work with Fornero and Velasco under the Vine Street Horns moniker. Ronnie Laws performs primarily as a solo jazz artist. Michael Harris has been recently touring with
Al McKay All Stars, performing classic Earth Wind & Fire hits. No information is available on Elmar Brown.