Cymande
Encyclopedia
Cymande are a British
funk band, who released several albums throughout the early 1970s. The group was formed in 1971 in London, England by musicians from Guyana
and Jamaica
. The name Cymande is derived from a Calypso
word for Dove, which symbolizes peace and love.
style influenced by calypso rhythms, jazz
, African music, American soul
and UK rock
of the time. By the mid 1970s the band members were going their separate ways, and the group disbanded in 1974. It was not until 20 years later that they reaped any financial rewards, as their music became a popular source for samplers. Cymande's original albums are still widely sought-after by DJs and funk aficionados. Perhaps the band's best known recording is the soulful dancefloor filler called "Bra", which was later sampled by the American hip-hop group De La Soul
and used as a breakbeat record by Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash
.
Cymande was accidentally discovered by English producer John Schroeder in a Soho, London club where they were rehearsing. He was there to see a rock band but the gig had been cancelled, and he stumbled upon these West Indian musicians. He soon signed the band and recorded their initial single "The Message." The single was released by Janus Records
, a division of Chess Records
. The track reached #20 on the US
Billboard
R&B
chart
. This set the stage for Cymande's self titled release in 1972.
Cymande traveled to New York
after the success of the first album, and began a tour of the US with Al Green
. They also shared a few bills with the Latin funk ensemble Mandrill
. They played a few important venues, including The Apollo, and played a gig on Soul Train
.
The band released three LPs for Janus. However, their final album, Promised Heights was not released in the US where Cymande had achieved their initial success. Promised Heights included "Brothers on the Slide", "The Recluse" and "Promised Heights". The tracks "Brothers on the Slide" and "Bra" also were staples of the rare groove
scene which developed in London and New York nightclub
s during the 1980s.
Members of the band reunited for a performance in Brighton
on 19 May 2006, during the UK Funk All-Stars night, as part of the Brighton Festival
2006.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
funk band, who released several albums throughout the early 1970s. The group was formed in 1971 in London, England by musicians from Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. The name Cymande is derived from a Calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
word for Dove, which symbolizes peace and love.
Career
The group developed a subtle and complex, deep funkFunk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
style influenced by calypso rhythms, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, African music, American soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and UK rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
of the time. By the mid 1970s the band members were going their separate ways, and the group disbanded in 1974. It was not until 20 years later that they reaped any financial rewards, as their music became a popular source for samplers. Cymande's original albums are still widely sought-after by DJs and funk aficionados. Perhaps the band's best known recording is the soulful dancefloor filler called "Bra", which was later sampled by the American hip-hop group De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
and used as a breakbeat record by Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
.
Cymande was accidentally discovered by English producer John Schroeder in a Soho, London club where they were rehearsing. He was there to see a rock band but the gig had been cancelled, and he stumbled upon these West Indian musicians. He soon signed the band and recorded their initial single "The Message." The single was released by Janus Records
Janus Records
Janus Records was a record label owned by GRT Records, also known as General Recorded Tape. Artists who had hits on Janus included Mungo Jerry, The Whispers, Cymande, Charlie, Al Stewart, Ian Thomas, and Ray Stevens. Chess Records was administered as a division of Janus in the early 1970s...
, a division of Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
. The track reached #20 on the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. This set the stage for Cymande's self titled release in 1972.
Cymande traveled to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after the success of the first album, and began a tour of the US with Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
. They also shared a few bills with the Latin funk ensemble Mandrill
Mandrill (band)
Mandrill is an American funk band formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1968. The band was formed by three brothers: Carlos Wilson , Lou Wilson and Ric Wilson . The brothers were born in Panama and grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn...
. They played a few important venues, including The Apollo, and played a gig on Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
.
The band released three LPs for Janus. However, their final album, Promised Heights was not released in the US where Cymande had achieved their initial success. Promised Heights included "Brothers on the Slide", "The Recluse" and "Promised Heights". The tracks "Brothers on the Slide" and "Bra" also were staples of the rare groove
Rare groove
Rare groove is defined as very hard to source or relatively obscure soul or jazz music. Rare groove is primarily associated with funk, jazz and pop, but is also connected to sub-genres including jazz fusion, Latin jazz, soul, R&B, northern soul, and disco. Vinyl records that fall into this...
scene which developed in London and New York nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s during the 1980s.
Members of the band reunited for a performance in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
on 19 May 2006, during the UK Funk All-Stars night, as part of the Brighton Festival
Brighton Festival
The Brighton Festival is an annual arts festival which takes place in the city of Brighton and Hove in England each May. It was founded in 1966, and is the largest multi-art form festival in England...
2006.
Members
- Ray King - Vocals/Percussion
- Steve Scipio - Bass
- Derek Gibbs - Soprano/Alto
- Pablo Gonsales - Congas
- Joey Dee - Vocals/Percussion
- Peter Serreo - Tenor
- Sam Kelly - Drums
- Mike Rose - Alto/Flute/Bongos
- Patrick Patterson - Guitar
- Jimmy Lindsey - Vocals/ Percussion (Promised Heights LP)
- George Kelly - Percussion
Discography
- 1972 - Cymande
- 1973 - Second Time Round
- 1974 - Promised Heights
- 1981 - Arrival
- 1999 - The Message
- 2000 - The Soul of Rasta
- 2004 - Renegades of Funk (best of anthology)
- 2007 - Promised Heights (reissue compilation)
In popular culture
- "Bra" is featured on the soundtrackCrooklyn (soundtrack)Crooklyn is the title of the soundtrack to the 1994 Spike Lee film of the same name. The soundtrack was released in 1995 on MCA Records in two separate volumes...
to Spike LeeSpike LeeShelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
's 1993 film CrooklynCrooklynCrooklyn is a 1994 semi-autobiographical film co-written and directed by Spike Lee. The film takes place in Brooklyn, New York and the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant during the summer of 1973. Its primary focus is a young girl, Troy , and her family...
. "Bra", "Dove", and "The Message" can be heard in his 2002 film 25th Hour25th Hour25th Hour is a 2002 American drama film directed by Spike Lee and is based on the novel The 25th Hour written by David Benioff, who also wrote the screenplay. The film stars Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, Rosario Dawson, Anna Paquin, and Brian Cox...
. - "Bra" is sampled by De La SoulDe La SoulDe La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
in the song "Change in Speak," from 3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest...
. - The instrumental mid-portion of "Bra" was used at both the beginning and ending of John Leguizamo'sJohn LeguizamoJonathan Alberto "John" Leguizamo is an Colombian-American actor, producer, voice artist, and comedian.-Early life:...
stage production Sexaholix. - The FugeesThe FugeesFugees were a Haitian American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of Hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group were rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel...
sampled Cymande's "Dove" for the title track of their 1996 second album The ScoreThe Score (album)The Score is the second and final studio album by the hip hop trio Fugees, released worldwide February 13, 1996 on Columbia Records. The album features a wide range of samples and instrumentation, with many aspects of alternative hip hop that would come to dominate the hip hop music scene in the...
. - The Message was resampled for Masta AceMasta AceDuval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"...
's "Me & The Biz," notably featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
, and in 1991 on MC SolaarMC SolaarMC Solaar is a francophone hip hop and rap artist. He is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers....
's "Bouge de là." - The track "Brothers on the Slide" was featured in the background of the movie, Dallas 362Dallas 362Dallas 362 is a 2003 film, starring and directed by Scott Caan. This film was Caan's debut as a director.The movie won the Critics Award at the 2003 CineVegas International Film Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Plot:...
. - British reggae band Aswad covered "The Message" on their 1988 album, Distant Thunder.
- "The Message" was sampled by Ruthless Rap AssassinsRuthless Rap AssassinsThe Ruthless Rap Assassins were a British hip hop group from Hulme, Manchester, England. The group was formed by MC Kermit La Freak and brothers Dangerous Hinds and Dangerous C .-History:Kermit grew up in Moss Side, Manchester - where he learnt to play violin at the age of 6 - and was...
on their 1990 single "And It Wasn't A Dream" - "Bra" was featured in Transworld Skateboarding's "Free Your Mind" in Darrell Stanton's part, and "Crawshay" was featured in Habitat's "Mosaic" in Danny Renaud's section.
- "Dove" is also used in Lagerfeld Confidential, a documentary on Karl Lagerfeld (produced by VOGUE)
- "Bra" was featured on an episode of Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
- "Fug" is a featured track on the video game Tony Hawk's Proving GroundTony Hawk's Proving GroundTony Hawk's Proving Ground is a video game developed by Neversoft for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles; by Page 44 Studios for the PlayStation 2 and Wii; and by Vicarious Visions for the Nintendo DS...
. - "Brothers On The Slide" was used in the 1996 released Girl SkateboardsGirl SkateboardsThe Girl Distribution Company is a skateboarding distribution company based in Torrance, California, which houses several companies including Girl Skateboards, Chocolate Skateboards, Royal Skateboard Trucks, and Fourstar Clothing....
video, "Mouse".