Brass Construction was an American funk group formed in Brooklyn, New York, United States, in 1968. They were originally known as Dynamic Soul, and went on to record a string of hit singles and albums through 1985.
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 No. 14. They had much more success on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, with nine chart entries, including "Movin, which reached No. 1. Singer, pianist, flautist and arranger Randy Muller went on to score a number of R&B hits with Skyy and B. T. Express.
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), later joined by Lee Evans on keyboards.
Brass Construction reunited for a concert on November 28, 2005, at the Bataclan Arena in Paris, France.
Joseph Arthur-Wong died in 1998. Jesse Ward Jr. died in 2016.A. Scott Galloway, "2016: An Unprecedented Year For Farewells To Musical Greatness", Soultracks.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020 Drummer Larry Payton died on March 21, 2016.
Discography Studio albums Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Record label US USR&B CAN UK 1975 Brass Construction 10 1 55 9 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver United Artists 1976 Brass Construction II 26 3 — — RIAA: Gold 1977 Brass Construction III 66 16 — — RIAA: Gold 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 USR&B USDan BEL CAN NLD NZ UK1970 "Two Timin' Lady" — — — — — — — —1976 "Movin' 14 1 1 20 47 10 — 23 "Changin — 24 1 — — — — — "Ha Cha Cha (Funktion)" 51 8 14 — — — — 371977 "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" — — — — — — — 701984 "Never Had a Girl" — 38 — — — — — — "Partyline" — 53 — — — — — 56 "International" — — — — — — — 701985 "Give and Take" — 76 28 — — — — 621988 "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 List of Billboard number-one dance club songs List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
References
External links Official website
Randy Muller's official website BBC.co.uk review