Hello All:
Just looked up and realized that this is not only Juneteenth, but we are in the middle of BLACK MUSIC MONTH and Caribbean Heritage Month! So much has happened since March, and then, with the cruel, inhumane murder of George Floyd, the T-rump stunt in having secret service open fire on peaceful protesters, not to mention the anger that spilled into the communities destroying shops, pharmacies, supermarkets, and other necessary resources - it kind of pushed the Black Music Culture to the backburner for a minute.
In my family, which is comprised of Caribbean and Soul Roots (husband from Panama by way of Jamaica and Barbados, and me Black R&B and African music to the core, there is no way that I'm going to let this month go by without acknowledging how vital and wonderful Black music is, and it's influence on the world.
Despite all that's happened over the last few weeks - Coronavirus, heinous murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbury, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and so many others, there's still a great deal to celebrate, and Black music bridges the gap between tragedy and triumph.
My late husband/love of my life, Lou Wilson, a great musician/composer/vocalist/arranger - and Fine Black Man of Caribbean lineage (Jamaican on his Dad, Wilfred Wilson's side; and Barbados (Bajan) on his Mom, Doris Wilson's side), would have written several songs based on what's happening now. They would have been inspiring, uplifting, encouraging, as well as a warning to the perpetrators.
The fact that brothers like LL Cool J, Nick Cannon, Alicia Keyes, and so many other of our brothers have turned our rage into music to inspire and inform us, is yet another viable and vital aspect of why Black music is so special and at the center of our core. In addition to inspiring our contemporary artists, there is a long traditional history of songs - called "Negro Spirituals" - that kept us together, inspired us, blessed us, encouraged us as we suffered through the ignominy of slavery, jimcrow, genocide, rape, castration, lies, cheating, privation - our spirits poured into those songs, and those in turn blessed us - "Didn't my Lord Deliver Daniel - and Why Not Every Man?" is a Black spiritual that I vividly remember as a kid - along with a whole repertoire that I sang with the Glee Club as a kid in Oklahoma City. Black Music like "We Shall Over Come" which is the theme song I grew up on as a participant in the Civil Rights Movement; "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around!"
Of course our party songs, soul songs, love songs, boogie down songs - all of the wonderful music that emanates from our very souls - music, song, rhythm is in our gene pool. It's a major part of our very DNA! We can't hear a beat and not move some part of our body to it; not have our internal workings resonating to it. It's impossible! One tenth of one percent of Black blood responds to the essential beat. They thought that after they stole us from our Motherland, separated us from our people, culture, heritage, and our roots, that we would lose our soul, our hope, our vision. But through those horrific 400 years of slave monsters, working in the field, chopping cotton, tobacco, sugar cane - we still had all this wonderfulness inside us, that kept - and keeps - our souls alive.
So happy Juneteenth Week End - the spirit of our ancestors are still dancing and singing at the news of being free of the shackles of slavery. Happy Black Music Month!! Happy Caribbean Heritage Month - to our brothers and sisters from all over the Caribbean - especially from Jamaica and Barbados - which is where the love of my life - Lou Wilson - and his remarkable family are from.
Of course you know that this has to lead up to saluting my favorite music group - Mandrill - Lou, Ric, Carlos, Wilfredo Wilson - who consolidated their Afro Caribbean lineage with their love of and talent for music, and gave us some of the most unique, remarkable, magnificent, expressive, danceable music on the planet. And what better way to celebrate than to share it with you.
Now, topping this off with a posthumous Happy Father's Day Greeting to Lou Wilson, love of my life - who made your transition to the realm of Ancestor/Angels seven years ago - Just wanted to let you know that our kids - Kira, Rais, and Adiya are as wonderful as ever. You'd be so proud of our GrandPeople: Our first grandson, Handsome Hugh V has just graduated from Hampton U; our second grandson, Jaden, has graduated from high school and is now getting ready to go to Lincoln U (PA); and Akili is now a high school freshman; and the twins are just entering junior high school. They all have your musical genius, creative genes, lifelong love of learning, and talent. So while you and Gil Scott Heron are up there creating new songs and rhythms, you're not forgotten, and still very much loved.
To all our Black dads who are holding your families together, know that you're likewise much loved and appreciated.
So enjoy!! Stay Blessed! Happy Juneteenth! Happy Black Music Month! Happy Father's Day!
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| Lou Wilson of Mandrill |
Born in Panama, October 25, 1941, he immigrated to the US with his father and brothers at the age of 12, and was raised in Brooklyn. He, along with his brothers, attended and graduated from the legendary Boys High of Brooklyn.
The wonderful thing about Dad Wilson was that he insisted on all his sons - 4 of them, (the youngest coming along long after his older brothers had grown and left home) - cultivating their talents; so he made each one learn to play a musical instrument. You might say he was the predecessor of Joe Jackson, because before they could not go out and hang with their friends, or participate in sports, they had to put in a considerable time practicing and mastering their instruments.
And master it, they did. Among they four of them, they played a total of nearly 50 instruments - including Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Congas, bongos, timbales, flute, sticks, spoons, kazoos, and the kitchen sink.
The important thing about Lou's music - and Mandrill in general - is that the lyrics are to uplift, inform, teach - they were about love, peace, and unity. There was never any profanity used in any of their lyrics; no overt sexuality or perversions - just good clean fun. They enjoyed their music and performing together - and apart from the occasional sibling rivalry - they were a cohesive unified family. They not only loved their music, but loved the music of so many other artists as well. Lou was the consummate ethnomusicologist - and loved music of other cultures as well as the music we as Black people created.
As a result, our home was a musical home. We would wake up to the Mighty Sparrow or Lord Kitchener one morning, John Coltrain, or Miles Davis, the next; the Beatles the next, Stevie Wonder, Olatunji, Hugh Masakela, Miriam Makeba, Bob Marley, James Brown, the Four Tops, The Temptations, and so on. If Lou wasn't listening to music, or making music, he was writing lyrics. A peculiar sound could send him off on a tangent in how to incorporate it into an idea that was running in the back of his mind. And soon, he was composing something new, wonderful and different. Our Sun/Son RA has as much talent as his dad, and is constantly composing, acting, doing Spoken Word - it's in his DNA.
Our Mandrill family was a true Diasporian Family - to the point that I coined a new description for us: African/JamacaBajaManian-Americans. The richness of the confluence of our cultures has been such a blessing to me and our family - as well as my nieces, nephews, and all the Wilsons, who comprise the Mandrill Family.
There has been so many issues and controversies about immigrantion; but we have so many geniuses amongst us - from scientists, to doctors, to educators, to architects, to entertainers. Had Lou's family not left Panama, and come to the US to seek better lives for their children, there would have been no Mandrill; similarly, there would be no Wyclef Jean, there would be no Rihanna, no Sheryl Lee Ralph, no Harry Belafonte, and so many others, who have blended their voices, talents, geniuses, creativity with their African American Brothers and Sisters here in the US. We have all been blessed with the genetic codes of our African Ancestors which has informed our capacity to transform it into something wonderful and magical - a lifetime legacy.
A year ago a very good friend of mine, Tony Regusters, posted a tribute to Mandrill on FaceBook, which started me on binge-listening to their music -something I haven't done in quite some time - Lou made his sudden and unexpected transition to the realm of Ancestor/Angel on January 7, 2013 - It's taken me this 7 years to sit and enjoy the music and the videos without tearing up, or feeling sad - just enjoying the memories.
"The
Wilson brothers, founders of the awesome 1970's Latin Jazz/R&B/Funk
fusion band MANDRILL, were born in Panama and grew up in the
Bedford–Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. With Carlos on trombone and vocals,
Lou on trumpet and vocals, and Ric on saxophone and vocals, they formed
the band to combine funk, soul, jazz, and Latin music. The band was
named after the mandrill species of primate, which was known for its
colorful features and family-oriented social structure. The other
original members included keyboardist Claude "Coffee" Cave, guitarist
Omar Mesa, bassist Bundie Cenas, and drummer Charlie Padro.
They signed with Polydor Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1970. The album and its self-titled single "Mandrill" both reached the Billboard charts. Fudgie Kae Solomon replaced Cenas for their second album Mandrill Is, which also reached the Billboard soul and pop charts.
Neftali Santiago then became Mandrill's new drummer. Their third album Composite Truth was released in 1972 and became their most successful release, with the single "Fencewalk" reaching number 19 on the Billboard singles chart. During this period, Mandrill gained critical notice as one of the most progressive and experimental funk bands of the 1970s, while their use of Latin elements drew comparisons to Santana and War. Funk historian Rickey Vincent noted Mandrill's multi-ethnic membership and "bizarre blend of African-based rhythms, scorching rock riffs, country fonk, bop jazz, and one-chord guitar rock operas."
Guitarist Dougie Rodriguez, a former Santana sideman, joined in time for the second Mandrill album to be released in 1973, Just Outside of Town, which reached the top ten on the Billboard Soul Albums chart.
Here's a beautiful love song by Mandrill..."
They signed with Polydor Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1970. The album and its self-titled single "Mandrill" both reached the Billboard charts. Fudgie Kae Solomon replaced Cenas for their second album Mandrill Is, which also reached the Billboard soul and pop charts.
Neftali Santiago then became Mandrill's new drummer. Their third album Composite Truth was released in 1972 and became their most successful release, with the single "Fencewalk" reaching number 19 on the Billboard singles chart. During this period, Mandrill gained critical notice as one of the most progressive and experimental funk bands of the 1970s, while their use of Latin elements drew comparisons to Santana and War. Funk historian Rickey Vincent noted Mandrill's multi-ethnic membership and "bizarre blend of African-based rhythms, scorching rock riffs, country fonk, bop jazz, and one-chord guitar rock operas."
Guitarist Dougie Rodriguez, a former Santana sideman, joined in time for the second Mandrill album to be released in 1973, Just Outside of Town, which reached the top ten on the Billboard Soul Albums chart.
Here's a beautiful love song by Mandrill..."
Del disco "Just outside of town" Mandrill una muy buena banda.YouTube
This has led to a MANDRILL BINGE. So I'm sharing some of their works you. Hope you enjoy them as much as they did performing them.
Hope you enjoyed this romp through Mandrill Land -
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT/
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
 |
| Gloria Dulan-Wilson |
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