Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
Encyclopedia
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was a big band
and swing influenced disco band
, formed in the Bronx
, New York
. They are best known for their #1 US dance hit, "Cherchez La Femme
"/C'est si bon, from their self-titled debut album
.
The band released three albums between 1976 and 1979. 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
. Bassist Thomas August Darnell Browder and vibraphonist
Andy Hernandez (Coati Mundi
), went on to form Kid Creole and the Coconuts
and Elbow Bones and the Racketeers
. Lead singer Cory Daye also pursued a successful solo career.
Their 1976 song
, "Sunshower", has been sampled by a number of artists, including A Tribe Called Quest
, M.I.A.
, Ghostface Killah
, De La Soul
, and Doug E. Fresh
. It was also remix
ed by Japanese
recording artist
, Fantastic Plastic Machine
. The song was also remixed by Korean musical group The Green Tea. The song was also featured in the 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood
. The song "Cherchez La Femme" was covered
by Gloria Estefan
in 1994 in her Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
album, it was also covered
by Ghostface Killah
in 2000, as "Cherchez LaGhost
" on his Supreme Clientele
album.
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
and swing influenced disco band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, formed in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, 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...
. They are best known for their #1 US dance hit, "Cherchez La Femme
Cherchez La Femme
"Cherchez La Femme" is a song that was written and performed by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band with lead vocals by Cory Daye in 1976. It was later featured in the 1998 film, 54...
"/C'est si bon, from their self-titled debut album
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (album)
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band is the debut album by disco group Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, released in 1976 on RCA and including the band's best-known and most successful track "Cherchez La Femme". The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard albums chart and #31 on the R&B listings...
.
The band released three albums between 1976 and 1979. 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
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
. Bassist Thomas August Darnell Browder and vibraphonist
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
Andy Hernandez (Coati Mundi
Coati Mundi
Coati Mundi is the stage name of American musician Andy Hernandez, percussionist, notably playing the vibraphone, and member of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, then of Kid Creole and the Coconuts. He scored the Top 40 UK hit "Me No Pop I" in 1981, just before the release of Tropical Gangsters...
), went on to form Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Kid Creole and the Coconuts is an American musical group created and led by August Darnell. Its music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, in particular "American and Latin American, South American, Caribbean, Trinidadian, Calloway" and conceptually inspired by the big band era...
and Elbow Bones and the Racketeers
Elbow Bones and the Racketeers
Elbow Bones and the Racketeers was an American big band-era styled male/female vocal group, created by August Darnell, which had a hit single called "A Night in New York", written by Ron Rogers and Deborah Clarkin, and released on the EMI label. It entered the UK Singles Chart on 14 January 1984....
. Lead singer Cory Daye also pursued a successful solo career.
Their 1976 song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "Sunshower", has been sampled by a number of artists, including A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
, M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
, Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
, 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 Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
. It was also remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed by Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
recording artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, Fantastic Plastic Machine
Tomoyuki Tanaka (musician)
is an electronic music artist/DJ, better known by his stage name of Fantastic Plastic Machine. Tanaka is considered to be part of the Shibuya-kei movement, drawing heavily from bossa nova, lounge music, soft rock, and French pop, but he also incorporates many other types of music...
. The song was also remixed by Korean musical group The Green Tea. The song was also featured in the 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood
Boyz N the Hood
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood film written and directed by John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Angela Bassett and Regina King, the film depicts life in poor South Central Los Angeles, California and was filmed and released...
. The song "Cherchez La Femme" was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
in 1994 in her Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" was released as single from Gloria Estefan's fourth solo-credited studio album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.-Formats and track listings:Europe CD Maxi Single ...
album, it was also covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
in 2000, as "Cherchez LaGhost
Cherchez LaGhost
"Cherchez LaGhost" is a song from Supreme Clientele, the second album by rapper Ghostface Killah, and features fellow Wu-Tang Clan member U-God and singer Goldie.It was released as the album's second single, with an accompanying music video....
" on his Supreme Clientele
Supreme Clientele
Supreme Clientele is the second studio album of American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released January 25, 2000 on Epic Records. The album was recorded at several studios in New York and Florida, with the sessions taking place in 1999...
album.
Discography
- Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah BandDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (album)Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band is the debut album by disco group Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, released in 1976 on RCA and including the band's best-known and most successful track "Cherchez La Femme". The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard albums chart and #31 on the R&B listings...
(1976) - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King PenettDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King PenettDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King Penett is the second album by disco group Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, released in 1978 by RCA...
(1978) - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to WashingtonDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to WashingtonDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington is the third album by disco group Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band.-Track listing:#"Didn't I Love You Girl?"#"Call Me"#"New York at Dawn"#"R.S.V.P. "...
(1979) - Calling All Beatniks! (1984) (as Dr. Buzzard's Savannah Band)
- The Very Best of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (1996)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
- Kid Creole and the CoconutsKid Creole and the CoconutsKid Creole and the Coconuts is an American musical group created and led by August Darnell. Its music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, in particular "American and Latin American, South American, Caribbean, Trinidadian, Calloway" and conceptually inspired by the big band era...