Brass Construction

Brass Construction was an American funk group formed in Brooklyn, New York, United States, in 1968. They were originally known as Dynamic Soul,[1] and went on to record a string of hit singles and albums through to 1985.

Brass Construction
OriginBrooklyn, New York, United States
GenresFunk, disco
Years active1968–1985
LabelsUnited Artists Records, Capitol Records, Epic Records
Past membersWade Williamston
Sandy Billups
Morris Price
Larry Payton (deceased)
Jesse Ward Jr. (deceased)
Michael "Micky" Grudge
Wayne Parris
Alvin Haskin
Duane Cahill
Joseph Arthur-Wong (deceased)
Randy Muller
Lee Evans

Career

Signed in 1975 by Sid Maurer, and former United Artists Records promotion man Fred Frank, they scored two US Billboard Hot 100 entries in 1976 - the most successful being "Movin'," which hit #14. They had much more success on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, with nine chart entries, including "Movin'", which reached #1. Singer, pianist, flautist and arranger Randy Muller went on to score a number of R&B hits with Skyy and B. T. Express.[2]

Over the years, Brass Construction members have included Wade Williamston (bass), Sandy Billups (percussion), Morris Price (trumpet), Larry Payton (drums), Jesse Ward Jr. (saxophone), Michael "Micky" Grudge (saxophone), Wayne Parris (trumpet), Alvin Haskin (original Trombone player on Movin), Duane Cahill (trombone), Joseph Arthur-Wong (guitar), and Randy Muller (lead vocals),[3] later joined by Lee Evans on keyboards.

Brass Construction reunited for a concert on November 28, 2005, at the Bataclan Arena in Paris, France.[3]

Joseph Arthur-Wong died in 1998. Jesse Ward Jr. died in 2016.[4] Drummer Larry Payton died on March 21, 2016.[5][6]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[7]		 US
R&B
[7]		 CAN
[8]		 UK
[9]
1975 Brass Construction 10 1 55 9 United Artists
1976 Brass Construction II 26 3 — —
1977 Brass Construction III 66 16 — —
1978 Brass Construction IV 174 24 — —
1979 Brass Construction 5 89 18 — —
1980 Brass Construction 6 121 32 — —
1982 Attitudes 114 21 — — Liberty
1983 Conversations 176 29 — — Capitol
1984 Renegades — 31 — 94
1985 Conquest — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums
  • Golden Classics (1991, Collectables)
  • The Best of Brass Construction: Movin' & Changin' (1993, EMI)
  • Get Up to Get Down: Brass Construction's Funky Feeling (1997, Capitol)
  • Classic Masters (2002, EMI/Capitol)
  • Something for the Weekend: 10 Extended Soul Weekender Classics (2006, Stateside)

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions
US
[7]		 US
R&B
[7]		 US
Dan
[7]		 BEL
[12]		 CAN
[8]		 NLD
[13]		 NZ
[14]		 UK
[9]
1970 "Two Timin' Lady" — — — — — — — —
1976 "Movin'" 14 1 1 20 47 10 — 23
"Changin'" — 24 3 — — — — —
"Ha Cha Cha (Funktion)" 51 8 14 — — — — 37
1977 "The Message (Inspirational)" — 42 — — — — — —
"What's on Your Mind (Expression)" — 69 — — — — — —
"We" / "Celebrate" — — 37 — — — — —
1978 "L-O-V-E-U" 104 18 — — — — — —
"Celebrate" — 77 — — — — — —
"Help Yourself" — 58 — — — — — —
"Get Up" — 56 — — — — — —
1979 "Right Place" — 41 74 — — — — —
1980 "Music Makes You Feel Like Dancing" — — — — — — — 39
"I'm Not Gonna Stop" — — — — — — — —
"How Do You Do (What You Do to Me)" — 71 — — — — — —
1982 "Can You See the Light" — 23 64 — — — — —
"Attitude" — 59 — — — — — —
1983 "Walkin' the Line" — 28 17 — — — — 47
"We Can Work It Out" — — — — — — — 70
1984 "Never Had a Girl" — 38 — — — — — —
"Partyline" — 53 — — — — — 56
"International" — — — — — — — 70
1985 "Give and Take" — 76 28 — — — — 62
1988 "Movin' 1988" — — 50 — — — 41 24
"Ha Cha Cha" (re-release) — — — — — — — 94
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Band members
  • Randy Muller – Keyboards/ Lead vocals
  • Wade Williamston – Bass
  • Joseph Arthur-Wong (d.1998) – Guitar
  • Larry Payton (1955 – March 21, 2016) – Drums
  • Jesse Ward Jr. (d.2016) – Saxophone
  • Michael "Micky" Grudge – Saxophone
  • Wayne Parris – Trumpet
  • Morris Price – Trumpet
  • Sandy Billups – Percussion

See also

References
  1. "Brass Construction Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 174. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. "Brass Construction - Platinum Recording - Grammy Nominated Band". Brassconstruction.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  4. A. Scott Galloway, "2016: An Unprecedented Year For Farewells To Musical Greatness", Soultracks.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020
  5. "R.I.P. Brass Construction's amazing drummer, Larry Payton". Soultracks.com. March 30, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  6. "LARRY PAYTON DIES..." Soulandjazzandfunk.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  7. "US Charts > Brass Construction". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  8. "CAN Charts > Brass Construction". RPM. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  9. "UK Charts > Brass Construction". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  10. "US Certifications > Brass Construction". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  11. "Brass Construction: Brass Construction". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  12. "BEL Charts > Brass Construction". Top 30. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  13. "NLD Charts > Brass Construction". MegaCharts. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  14. "NZ Charts > Brass Construction". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
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