1/27/2008 Band Members CAST for the stage play:
"Take Me Back!" The Musical: General Info Member Since 1/27/2008 Band Members CAST: Wendell--Faron Griffin, Pearl--Ana "Sandy" Tili, Star--Ria, AJ--Jimmy Esau Brown, Corky--John Island, Malvin--Charles Johnson, Momma--Monica Foster, Domino--Kylah Webster, Foots--William "Ronnie" Randolph & Roger L. Helm II
New musical to benefit Girls Inc.
of West Contra Costa County
From the Globe Richmond Desk
Proceeds from a new musical production, entitled “Take Me Back! The Musical,” will benefit Girls Inc. of West Contra Costa County, a nonprofit agency that serves girls ages 6 to 18 in the Richmond community.
The musical is based on the story of a real-life Bay Area R&B group, originally named Onyx, who recorded and released music in the ’70s, with some success in Europe. The original songs and music were composed by local writer/producer Marty Dahl. “Take Me Back!” is directed by David Sonnier and writer/producer Karen Victoria Basey.
The musical will feature a talented cast of Bay Area actors, including Faron Griffin, Ana “Sandy” Tili, Ria, Charles Johnson, John Island, Jimmy Esau Brown, Kylah Webster, Monica Foster, William “Ronnie” Randolph III and Roger L. Helm II.
The opening setting of the musical takes place in West Oakland, where the characters are reflecting on their lives and reminiscing about the group’s earlier years. Characters are transported back in time to the early ’70s when they first met.
“Take Me Back! The Musical” debuts Sept. 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. at the Knox Theatre at Contra Costa College, located at 2600 Mission Bell Dr. in San Pablo.
Tickets cost $20 and are available in advance via PayPal at www.myspace.com/takemebackthemusical, or at the theater one hour prior to the performance.
“An Intro’ To Bay Area Funk
Soulful R&B sounds mix with the smell of real funk emanating from the basement of a West Oakland rug store between 26th and 30th. A teenager called Marvin is hangin’ all bug-eyed as Eugene Blacknell and Larry Graham are strokin’ on acoustic and white”Supro” electric guitars doin’ the flute jam called “Gonzo.”
On any night in the late 50’s and early ‘60s, younger musicians like these might be found by an open door at the Willow Club in West Oakland vibin’ on the blues and deep southern soul sets. Inside Sterling Jackson a noted local guitarist, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Johnny Otis or B.B. King might be playin’ the house.
Then the flood of James Brown 45’s fully penetrated the basements and back storeroom rehearsal spaces. In 1965, Johnny Talbot and de Thangs had a lock on the black club scene in the Bay Area. With a massive stage presence and a tight band, Johnny Talbot delivered screamin’ blues and funky soul rockers. You could “Check your Battery” with Johnny just about any night. In the same year a DJ named Jay Payton started mentoring Marvin Holmes who was listening real closely to those JB 7’s and at the same time had been sheddin’ with the great Oakland jazz guitarist Eddie Foster. In late ’65 early ’66 the Uptights emerged, and with Al Corley coming from JBs band on sax they started sweatin ‘up the Upper Room in San Francisco and the Showcase Club on Telegraph Ave. in Oakland. Imagine mid 1966, Sly, Larry and Cynthia, tryin’ to get it together with ‘Freddie and Stone Souls’ in San Francisco. They’d be in the audience at the Showcase absorbing the hard drums, rogue horn stabs, guitar strokin’ the “Oomph” that would become BAY AREA FUNK!! Hardcore gruvin’, just hardcore gruvin’ was the new thing and West Oakland was the critical center. On any night in 1967 Marvin and the Uptights were on the bill as a headliner or back-up band at the Showcase, the Sportsman Club on Grove, or down at Jack London Square. Can you imagine Harvey Scales and the 7 Sounds comin’ to the Bay Area for a week long battle of the bands with the Uptights? Yeah that’s right!!
Eugene Blacknell, when not on the road as bandleader and arranger for Joe Simon, was giggin’ at the same spots with Jon Faddis blowin’ horn in his band. Willie Hoskins, owner of the Boola-Boola label struck it big with ‘The Funky Mule.’ Eventually Marvin and Eugene started their Brown Door and Seaside labels. These were the raw ingredients for the big acts about to follow; Family Stone, Tower of Power, Con-Funk-Shun, 9th Creation. Reach back into these vibes flowing from this time capsule and you will soon be able to envision Darondo mackin’ “Foxy Girls” from his Rolls-Royce rollin‘ on the streets of Richmond and Oakland. You’ll re-awaken the passion and heat of a Johnny Talbot and Uptights gig for the Panther’s in the late 60’s. Or maybe you’ll “Find Yourself” at a 4 AM gathering at Hyde’s Restaurant with Marvin Holmes and the Funk Company, The Whispers, The Ballards, Vernon Garrett if he was in town, and all those brothers and sisters who followed these musicians back and forth across the Bay Bridge. “ This is a story told by Marcus Buchanan (aka Marcus B) who has been bringing hardcore funk to the California central coast region for over 8 years on KZSC and KUSP 88.9FM in Santa Cruz. A record collector of what he calls the Pan African diaspora, he started unburying the ‘funk’ while in graduate school 15 years ago.
Justin Torres, a Bay Area Soul Historian sheds some additional light on, How The Bay Area Sound Came To Be. Justin writes “the Bay Area sound incorporates two distinctly different styles and approaches. San Francisco and the rest of the Peninsula (Ease Palo Alto, San Jose, and San Mateo) added rock and Latin rhythms to a soul groove. He states also, “The East Bay (Oakland, Richmond, and Vallejo) pushed the Blues and Jazz aspect of Funk. The Bay Area Funk sound developed as a mix of races migrated here and brought with them the styles, feelings, and love of their people’s music in turn creating one unique sound that you will hear on the Bay Area Funk compilation.”
Included in the Bay Area funk music scene and on the Bay Area Funk compilation is the West Oakland group ONYX. Gabriel Lautaro (aka DJ Riddm) writes about ONYX and their song Break It Loose (NIA), “Led by brothers Wendell and Aaron Basey who formed their own NIA label in 1972 along side Malvin Scott(Lead Tenor) and Cornelius Weekley.” This is “A tight harmony quartet with a sound and a message similar to the Temptations. They got their start in the original Natural Four. The lineup included Larry Lennear on horns, Richard Lewis on Bass and rhythm by the Equal Rights Band.” Keeping with the Band’s name, Equal Rights was one of the earliest bands to have female band members. Playing funky rhythm and lead guitars was Alberta Jackson and on the keyboards was Carla Vaughn. ONYX evolved into ONYX1 with a new CD release called ONYX1 featuring Terrence Forsythe RIGHT NOW. The new CD is making noise in the United Kingdom. Soul Brothers Records in the UK writes “The album consists of mainly mid-tempo tracks and ballads which really show off their harmonies best. The mid tempo big ballad ‘It’s Time for Love’ and ‘One Day at a Time’ are excellent, and the mid-tempo ‘Spellbound.’ ‘Mine All Mine,’ ‘But I Do,’ ‘Right Now,’ and ‘You Never Fail to Amaze Me,’ are all highlights on the consistent set which is quality soul throughout.” Solar Radio’s Soulful Grooves, DJ Paul Phillips, broadcasting on the Sky digital Network across the UK and Europe said on air, “Looks like ONYX1 is sitting on a massive hit CD.”
The Bay Area during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, was the melting pot for producing many notable and talented Artist like, Pete and Coke Escaveito’s Latin Band. Which in turn nurtured daughter and niece percussionist ‘Sheila E’ to stardom. Also growing up in the Bay Area City of Oakland and going on to international stardom were The Pointer Sisters. Of notable acclaim also was Lenny Williams and Tower of Power. Lenny Williams’ solo recording ‘Cause I Love You’ was hailed by comedian Steve Harvey as one of the “greatest love songs of all time.” Adding more funk to the world was Felton Pilot and Confunction. Other artist emerging from the Bay Area music scene during that same period included The Natural Four, the Yancy Taylor trio, the Joel Durham Quintet, the “O” Town Passions, and many others.
June 07, 2007 Music Lovers and Music Makers…This a write-up on a newly released CD entitled ONYX1 featuring Terrence Forsythe Right Now. You are receiving this update notice because you are in my data base and you fit in one of the categories above. I Was fortunate to be one of the background voices and Co-Executive Producers of this CD. This write-up is about the background and some interesting features of the Artists involved. The project began over three years ago in Las Vegas, NV. It has the influences of Detroit, Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and the Oakland Bay Area infused within its lyrics and musical content. There are many fine Las Vegas musicians added to this mix. The CD ONYX1 featuring Terrence Forsythe RIGHT NOW is a journey down the path of love. It begins with the question “Do you really know what time it is? “And answers with “It’s Time for Love. “ Another song talks about falling in Love with that special person when they weren’t even looking your way. The CD continues a love songs progression with “One Day at a Time “ and to a warm tasty saxophone and background vocal rendition of “ Thatz Enough”. The CD is available locally. If all attempts to secure the CD are unsuccessful go http://www.myspace.com/onyx1music. I'm sharing this unsolicited comment, “ Every track is a winner for me and it is great to see these guys back on the scene. A combination of great memorable songs and a quality contemporary production which is a rare combination these days. What’s more these guys really can sing." Paul Phillips www.soulfulgrooves.com”. We all had a great time, the Singers, Arrangers, Writers, Producers, Sound Engineers, Musicians, and Recording Studios personalities, in the creation of this Adult Contemporary product. Enjoy and enjoy...“AJ” Basey, Co-Executive Producer ONYX1
ONYX1 FEATURING TERRENCE FORSYTHE RIGHT NOW - April 17, 2007 released CD on the Indie label N2L Records.
This is a strong emotional and soulful delivery of songs in classic R&B adult, easy listening pop, and smooth jazz with original members of ONYX1 adding smooth harmonies and lead vocal dynamics by Terry Forsythe.
2003 Ubiquity Records released a compilation entitled Bay Area Funk which included the vocal group, Onyx. "Break It Loose" was re-released by Ubiquity Records in association with Lov 'N' Haight Records.Two of the original members of Onyx (Wendell and Aaron Basey) were founders of the group The NATURAL FOUR with John January and Alfred 'Pumpkin' Bowden. The Basey Brothers, Malvin Scott, and Cornelius Weekley, original ONYX members released several songs including "Break It Loose." The group disbanded in the late 70's. In the year 2003 the founding members learned "Break it Loose" was having success in Europe and had also been included in the February 2001 release of Funk Spectrum III. A CD compiled by New York DJ's Pete Rock and Keb Darge for the BBE Music Company in the United Kingdom.
IN 2004 the Basey brothers and Malvin Scott recruited Terry Forsythe to embark on this music project.
Music Lovers and Music Makers…This CD entitled ONYX1 featuring TERRENCE FORSYTHE RIGHT NOW, is a move towards the “top of the game”. Terry provides a strong delivery of songs in easy listening pop and smooth jazz sounds with the original members of ONYX1. The completed CD project is a testament to “LOVE’. From the first to the last song the CD covers many facets of love. Beginning the wonderful CD journey with the song “It’s Time for Love” Terrence lets us know that the time is right. A sexy saxophone by Ed Judd seduces us and voices of Terry and Onyx1 carries us away. The number two song is about the love impression and when it is made on you. “When You Weren’t Looking” is a smooth funky number that speaks to the time when you see for the first time the one of your dreams. The song is a danceable number that steppers and Cha-Cha-Cha enthusiast like. Song number three is a quiet storm, you feel heat, you can dance a dance of love to this beat, and you can do it “Right Now”. A melodic and romantic reminder of how enchanting a fulfilling relationship can be is song number four " Spellbound”. Song number five “Mine All Mine” is about joy. The joy that comes with knowing your special someone is your’s and your’s alone. In a room full of people there is always a couple that usually fits song number six “You Never Fail to Amaze Me”. Lovers can be full of surprises. They can treat you good or treat you bad. And still one partner always says, "I'm in love with you." Moving to song number seven, passion and emotion rings out as Terrence belts from the heart, “But I Do” love you. This song was written and arranged by Terry and his wife, Gwendolyn Forsythe.
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This Cd is about “Love”. The next song is often a promise made forever and demonstrated “One Day At A Time” That’s song number eight. Moving to the number nine song, another side of love is exposed. The bitter sweeet relationship, when your baby’s physical presence is with you but their heart and mind are somewhere else, do not take it personal it’s ok, it’s all good, If that’s the way they feel, but they need to know “Thatz Enough” you or I can’t stay. Song number ten on this roster, everybody wins, "Give a Little Bit” is a lyrical testement and a winner. Terrence and ONYX1 take a look at the Golden Rule and gives us all something to think about. Number eleven song is a ReMix. For those who think young, they’re comin another way, no no I won’t waste no time. I got to make you mine, ”Mine All Mine-ReMix“. the final song number twelve sparkles. It seductively features saxophonist Ed Judd who shines on “Thatz Enough.” and the vocals of Terrence (T4) and ONYX1 are complimentary. Could go on with words but the proof is in the CD. For the baby boomer generation this is our kind of music. Especially those of us with spice and life . The younger over thirty will enjoy it too. Those people listening to this CD can highlight love puzzles of their own. Visit the puzzle of your own love life. I felt and heard songs with me in them on this CD. (A few times.)
Heard it thru the grapevine. The Basey brothers and Malvin Scott recruited Terry Forsythe (T4) to embark on a new project. Terry's range and electrifying showmanship gave testament to his solid musical upbringing in Detroit, MI. Terry has worked with Stevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach, Brenda Russell, and Bonnie Ratt, Taj Mahal, Pink Floyd, Heavy D, and other notable artist. He was a featured vocalist for the Sitcom "Royal Family" starring Della Reese and Redd Foxx. Terry was the theme arranger and performer with Boys II Men for the sitcom theme song "It's a Different World." He sang in National Lampoon's "Dorm Daze II." Late 2006 Terry began an eight month tour with the musical show "I Can't Stop Loving You" the music of Ray Charles. Terry is also a part of the touring show with Motown legend and three-time Grammy award winner, Richard Street, former lead singer of The Temptations. ONYX1 featuring Terrence Forsythe RIGHTNOW is available for purchase over the internet
http://cdbaby.com/onyx1music. The CD is available to order at many local record stores in Canada and the United States. Let stores know they can order through there affiliate CD Baby - SUPER D ONE-STOP. For those who enjoy the convenience of Mp3, IPods, and other digital music downloading visit the (Links to Others) on this
Webpage. Additionally there are exceptionally fine Las Vegas musicians lending their talents to this CD. There’s the Brothers Jimmy and Jerome Ali, Woody Woods, Tex Richardson, Matthew Pittman, Oliver Goodloe, Darryl “Footz” Woolfolk, Kermit Stringfellow, Ron Brown, Pierre Jovan, Mike Clark, Ronnie Rathers, Morris O’connor, Dave Romero, Vales Crossley, and adding a particularly nice featured track 12 is saxophonist Edward “Ed” Judd playing ”Thatz Enough”. This musical mix represents influences from Chicago, Detroit, Denver, New York, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Current and future fans, and friends are encouraged and should feel free to visit the http://www.myspace.com/Onyx1music website to blog and communicate with this group. This is a great bunch of fellows. Hats off anf Congratulations on a fine product. Heard it through the grapevine that this is just the beginning of things to come. Collectively speaking, I look forward to the future project.
Sinja Mombay
Music Director,
Equal Rights Band