The BAR-KAYS began in Memphis, Tennessee, as a studio session group, backing major artists at Stax Records. In 1967 they were chosen by Otis Redding to play as his back up band and were tutored for that role by Al Jackson Jr, Booker T. Jones and the other members of Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Their first single, "Soul Finger," was issued on April 14, 1967, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard R&B Singles chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
December 10, 1967, Redding and four members of the band—Jimmie King (born June 8, 1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (born December 27, 1948; electric organ), Phalon Jones (born 1948; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (born 1948; drums)—and their partner, Matthew Kelly, died when their airplane crashed into Lake Monona, near Madison, Wisconsin, while attempting to land at Truax Field, Redding and the band were scheduled to play their next concerts in Madison, Wisconsin, Trumpeter Ben Cauley, was the only survivor of the crash, Bassist James Alexander was on another plane, as the plane carrying Otis Redding held only seven passengers. Cauley and Alexander rebuilt the Band.
The re-formed band consisted of Ben Cauley, James Alexander, Harvey Henderson, saxophonist, Michael Toles, guitarist, Ronnie Gorden, organ, Willie Hall, drums and later Larry Dodson, (formerly of fellow Stax act the Temprees), lead vocals. The Band backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings, including Isaac Hayes on his album Hot Buttered Soul.
Ben Cauley left the group in 1971, leaving James Alexander, Larry Dodson (vocals, vibes), Barry Wilkins (guitar), Winston Stewart (keyboards), Harvey Henderson (tenor sax, flute), Charles "Scoops" Allen (trumpet) and Alvin Hunter (drums) to create the album Black Rock. Lloyd Smith joined the band in 1973, and the band changed musical direction during the 1970s, forging a successful career in funk music. The Stax/Volt label folding in 1975, the group signed with Mercury Records.
In 1976, Larry Dodson (vocals), James Alexander (bass), Lloyd Smith (guitar), Charles Allen (trumpet), Harvey Henderson (saxophone), Frank Thompson (trombone), Winston Stewart (keyboards), and Michael "Mike" Beard (drums) brought their "Shake Your Rump to the Funk" track into the R&B Top Five. In autumn 1977, the band came out with "Flying High" on Your Love, an album that featured single "Shut the Funk Up," a "near-perfect disco song punctuated by the funky horn triumvirate of Charles "Scoop'' Allen, Harvey 'Joe' Henderson, and Frank ''Captain Disaster'' Thompson and dominated by vocalist Larry ''D'' Dodson's call to ''Get on up or just shut the funk up''. the BAR-KAYS peaked as prolific funk band from late 70s to late the 80s. The band released funk single such as "Move Your Boogie Body" (1979), "Hit and Run" (1981), "Freak Show on the Dance Floor" (1984), "Satisfied True" (1987) and "Struck by You" (1989).
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The views and opinions expressed on Funk Chronicles are those of the interviewees/guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Funk Music Hall of Fame & Exhibition Center (dba TheFunkCenter). Any content provided by our interviewees/guest are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
This interview was recorded on location for DATV Studios in Dayton Ohio (August 10, 2020).
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