This concert was filmed Sep 2010 at the Funkfest concert @ The Greek Theater in Los Angeles Ca - Along with Klymaxx, Con funk Shun & Morris Day & the Time
RIP - Mark "Drac" Hicks, Mark Adams, John "Popp' Clark & Ollie Rasbury
West Coast SLAVE
The legendary Ohio-based funk band, was formed in the spring of 1976 by trombonist Floyd Miller and trumpeter Steve Washington. After securing the rest of the lineup which included: Tom Lockett Jr. (tenor and alto sax), Carter Bradley (keyboards), Mark Adams (bass), Mark "Drac" Hicks (lead and rhythm guitar, and background vocals), Danny Webster (rhythm and lead guitar, lead and background vocals), Orion "Bimmy" Wilhoite (alto and tenor sax), and Tim "Tiny" Dozier (drums), the unit was complete.
After signing with “Cotillion Records” shortly thereafter, SLAVE had its first hit single “SLIDE” in 1977 which is still considered a classic around the world till this day. Some personal changes were made in 1978, as a result, the band brought on drummer/percussionist “Steve Arrington” as the lead vocalist, during this time they had a string of top-10 hits including "Just a Touch of Love" in 1979, "Watching You" in 1980, and "Snap Shot" in 1981.
The band moved to several different labels in the mid to late 80’s, And after releasing “Unchained at Last” in late 1985 and Despite scoring a couple of minor hits on the R&B chart from this album the following year and another minor hit from their 1987 follow-up album, Make Believe, Slave could not recapture the commercial success they had enjoyed in their heyday.
Slave would go on to tour across the country periodically during late 90’s, playing all those great hits that they were known for. But it wasn’t until late 2004 when Bandleader and original member Mark “Drac” Hicks along with Bass player and originally member Mark Adams decided to revamp the band, Bringing in former Drummer from LTD “Bobby Wilkerson (Drums) as the Music Director, Larry Houston (Keyboards), also an original member who played on numerous records in the early 80’s, Tony Young (Percussionist) and BBI Recording Artist Vocalist/Music Producer Donald Bell aka “Donnie B” (Lead Vocalist) This unit along with other band members, that were put in place, would go on to create a Resurgence of the band, bringing a stellar and electrifying show to concert venues and funk festivals around the country, with some of the biggest names in Popular Music.
On this concert, in addition to the already mentioned we had: Bill Pittman( Bass) Aya Iwata (Keys) John "Popp' Clark (Guitar) Norman Weatherly(Keys) Ollie Rasbury (Background Vocals)
Synthia King (Background Vocals) Adriel ((Background Vocals)
Sadly, in mid-2011, Lead Guitarist Mark “Drac Hicks and Mark Adams (Bass) passed away, a few months apart from each other, and a few years later we lost Ollie Rasbury (Background vocalist) and John "Popp" Clark (Guitarist)leaving the music world and “the band” in shock.
Knowing that’s what they would have wanted “Slave” continued to pay tribute to the Dayton Ohio natives by continuing to tour across the country, and after 17 years of performing, decided to use the moniker West Coast “Slave” as the majority of the band members “Drac” Chose, were from the West Coast, except Larry Houston, who is from Dayton Ohio. But make no mistake, West Coast “SLAVE” is bringing the Funk like never before, with an electrifying, rump shaking, foot stomping and head bobbing show you don’t want to miss.
for more information contact: info@brassbellent.com
/ @donnieb2323
29 сен 2024