Curtis Mayfield & Repercussions
1994
New York’s Repercussions was already an active band by the time various members started jamming at the Giant Step club (the band’s rhythm section went on to become core members of Groove Collective as well). As their relationship grew, we started managing them and adding them to concert bills with artists like Massive Attack, Arrested Development, The Brand New Heavies, and Bernie Worrell. The buzz on the band grew even more when they were the first release on James Lavelle’s Mo’Wax label. We started receiving interest from major labels, but it was Warner Brothers’ legendary President Lenny Waronker who ultimately won over the band in a bidding war.
At the time of courting the band, Warner Brothers was also recording a tribute album to Curtis Mayfield (who, due to an accident in Brooklyn, was now a paraplegic). The Curtis Mayfield tribute album included artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Whitney Houston, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, and BB King. Warner decided to pair Repercussions with Curtis to do a cover of his composition “Let’s Do It Again” that was made famous by Staples Singers. Curtis would sing the part that Pops Staples did in the original.
To support the song, the band flew to Atlanta to film a video with Curtis directed by Kevin Bray (who was a Giant Step regular). Below are photographs from the video shoot. Curtis was everyone’s hero and his grace, positivity, and determination was an inspiration for all of us.
Repercussions went on to record “Heaven & Earth” that was produced by Steely Dan producer Gary Katz and mixed by Bob Power and featured a guest appearances by Joe Sample.
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