War (band)

War was an American funk band of the 1970s that had its roots in California. They had no specific genre, they played Jazz, Funk, Soul, Pop R'nB. The roots of the band are from 1962, when Howard Scott and Harold Brown formed a group called the Creators in Compton, California. Within a few years, they had added Charles Miller, B.B. Dickerson and Lonnie Jordan to the lineup. They recorded several singles on Dore Records and worked with Jay Contreli from Love. In 1968, the Creators became Nightshift and started performing with Deacon Jones, a football player and singer. At a performance, producer Jerry Goldstein suggested they would start to work with Eric Burdon (of the disbanded Animals) and Lee Oskar (a Danish harmonica player).

Related Topics:
Genre - 1962 - Howard Scott - Harold Brown - Compton - California - Charles Miller - B.B. Dickerson - Lonnie Jordan - Dore Records - Jay Contreli - Love - 1968 - Deacon Jones - Football - Jerry Goldstein - Eric Burdon - Animals - Lee Oskar - Danish - Harmonica

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The original WAR include:

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(Main instruments listed, they all sang and played percussions)

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• BB Dickerson (Bass)
• Lee Oskar (Harmonica)
• Lonnie Jordan (Keyboards)
• Papa Dee Allen (Percussion, Bongos)
• Harold Brown (Drums)
• Charles Miller (Saxophone, Flure, Clarinet)
• Howard Scott (Guitar)

Non-original WAR members:

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• Sandro Albert - Guitar
• James Montgomery Baker - Guitar
• William Bergman - Saxophone
• John Berry - Trumpet
• Rick Braun - Trumpet
• Kerry Campbell - Saxophone
• James Coile - Saxophone
• Jason (J.B.) Eckl - Guitar
• Charles Green - Flute, Horn, Saxophone, Horn Arrangements
• Ricky Green - Bass
• Ronnie Hammond - Percussion, Drums, Vocals
• Fernando Harkless - Saxophone
• Kenny Alvin Hudson - Percussion
• Larry Klymas - Saxophone
• Willie Loya - Percussion
• Richard Marquez - Percussion
• Debbie Moman - Vocals (Background)
• Milton Myrick - Vocals (Background)
• Tetsuya Nakamura - Harmonica, Vocals (Background)
• Charles Owens - Saxophone
• Tiki Paccius - Percussion
• Donald Phillips - Bass
• Luther Rabb - Bass, Vocals
• Marcos Reyes - Percussion
• Pat Rizzo - Flute, Saxophone, Vocals
• Papo Rodriguez - Percussion
• Sal Rodriguez - Percussion, Drums, Vocals, (Background)
• Peter Rosen - Bass
• Sharon Scott - Vocals (Background)
• Alice Tweed Smith - Percussion, Vocals (Background)
• Lee Thornburg - Trumpet
• Francisco "Poncho" Tomaselli - Bass
• Rae Valentine - Organ, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
• Moses Wheelock - Conga
• Stewart Ziff - Guitar

Burdon changed the name to War and the new line-up, with Oskar, began recording in 1969 and released Eric Burdon Declares War in 1970. "Spill the Wine" became a hugely popular single, and the follow-up, The Black Man's Burdon, was almost as successful as the first. In 1971, Burdon left the group in the middle of a European tour, claiming he was too exhausted to go on (see 1971 in music). After a highly unsuccessful album, War, War's The World Is a Ghetto reestablished them at the forefront of popular funk and included the 1972 hit "The Cisco Kid". That was followed by the slightly disco influenced "Gypsy Man" from the 1973 album Deliver The Word. Why Can't We Be Friends (1975 in music) sold well, and included "Low Rider", "the song" for every Low Rider enthusiast. A compilation of jams called Platinum Jazz was a surprise success in 1977.

Related Topics:
1969 - Eric Burdon Declares War - 1970 - The Black Man's Burdon - 1971 - 1971 in music - War - The World Is a Ghetto - Why Can't We Be Friends - 1975 in music - Low Rider - Platinum Jazz - 1977

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War (band): Discography ►