Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was a big band- and swing-influenced disco band that was formed in the Bronx, New York. The band is best known for its number-one US dance hit "Cherchez La Femme/C'est si bon", from its self-titled debut album.

Dr. Buzzard's Original
Savannah Band
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresSoul, big band, disco
Years active1976–1979, 1984
LabelsRCA
Past membersCory Daye
Stony Browder
Mickey Sevilla
Andy Hernandez
August Darnell

History

The band was conceived by brothers Stony Browder Jr. (February 7, 1949 – October 6, 2001)[1] and Thomas Browder (also known as August Darnell, born August 12, 1950), with the former writing music and the latter lyrics. They started the band in 1974 with singer Cory Daye (born April 25, 1952), drummer Mickey Sevilla, and percussionist Andy Hernandez (Coati Mundi).[2] They released three albums between 1976 and 1979. Their music blended disco beats with rhythms from genres including calypso, rhumba, cha-cha-chá, and compas. The Browders, who were both multiracial, wrote songs embracing multiculturalism over stories about tragic mulattoes.[3] A smaller lineup known as Dr. Buzzard's Savannah Band (omitting the word "original") also released a fourth album in 1984. They were frequent performers at Studio 54. Darnell and Hernandez went on to form Kid Creole and the Coconuts and Elbow Bones and the Racketeers.

Cory Daye also pursued a successful solo career. In 1979, she released the album Cory and Me. The album produced a single, "Pow Wow" b/w Green Light", which peaked on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at #76 later that year.[4] The track "Wiggle and Giggle All Night" became a Top 20 hit in the Netherlands.

Stony Browder Jr. died in 2001.[5]

In 2022, songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer filed a copyright lawsuit against Dua Lipa claiming that her song "Levitating" infringed on their 1979 song "Wiggle and Giggle All Night".[6]

Members
  • Stony Browder Jr. – music, piano, vocals (1976–1979, 1984)
  • Thomas Browder – lyrics, bass, vocals (1976–1979)
  • Cory Daye – vocals (1976–1979, 1984)
  • Mickey Sevilla – drums (1976–1979, 1984)
  • Andy Hernandez – percussion (1976–1979)

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[7]		 US
R&B
[7]		 AUS
[8]		 CAN
[9]		 NLD
[10]
1976 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band 22 31 39 87 13 RCA
1978 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King Penett 36 23 — 29 —
1979 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington — — — — — Elektra
1984 Calling All Beatniks! — — — — — Passport
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions
US
[7]		 US
R&B
[7]		 US
Dan
[7]		 AUS
[8]		 CAN
[9]		 NLD
[10]
1976 "I'll Play the Fool" 80 92 1 — 100 19
"Cherchez La Femme" 27 31 49 23 2
"Sour and Sweet" — 72 — — —
1978 "Mister Love" — — 22 — — —
"Organ Grinder" — — — — —
"Auf Wiedersehen, Darrio" — — — — —
"Transistor Madness" — — — — —
1979 "Didn't I Love You Girl" — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also

References
  1. Stony Browder, Death Record
  2. Shapiro 2005, p. 174.
  3. Shapiro 2005, p. 176.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Top Pop Singles 1955-2012 (14th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-89820-205-2.
  5. Jon Pareles (May 19, 2016). "Dapper as Ever, Kid Creole Dresses Up His Songs for a New Musical". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  6. Kreps, Daniel (March 6, 2022). "Dua Lipa Hit With Second Copyright Lawsuit Over 'Levitating'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  7. "US Charts > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  8. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "CAN Charts > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". RPM. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  10. "NLD Charts > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  11. "US Certifications > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2016-02-01.

Notes
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