Slave

SLAVE

“THE 70’S & 80’S LEGENDARY FUNK BAND”
The midwest funkmasters “SLAVE” are back in action with an up coming CD (their first release in over ten years) to be released in the summer of 2006 and a worldwide tour the“70’S FUNK FLASHBACK TOUR” featuring: The Brothers Johnson; Ray Parker Jr.; Slave; The Mary Jane Girls; Switch and Faze-O.

This dayton ohio based band has been known as one of the first purveyors of the “mid-west funk” sound that became popular during the mid 70,s and early 80’s. (second only to their mentors the” ohio players”) along with Bootsy Collins and Midnite Star from Cincinnati Ohio. Lakeside, Heatwave, Roger and Zapp, Sun, the Ohio Players and Faze-o, all from Dayton Ohio, they were responsible for introducing a vital new R&B funk sound and calling attention to an area of the country that had languished in musical obscurity for far too long.

Slave was formed in Dayton Ohio in 1975. The original line up was Mark ”Mr. Mark” Adams on bass guitar; Steve ” The Fearless Leader” Washington, trumpet; Mark ”Drac” Hicks, lead guitar; Tom Lockett, sax; Floyd Miller, trombone; Danny Webster, lead & rhythm guitar, lead & background vocals; Tim Dozier, drums; Carter Bradley, keyboards and Orion Wlhoite, sAx.

Slave secured a recording contract with atlantic/cotillion records after pee wee from the Ohio Players (also the cousin of Steve Washington) took the group under his wing after hearing their demo tape including of slide.

Slave’s self titled debut album was released on feb. 8, 1977 and spawned the monster hit single“”Slide” a major worldwide hit that was also a definitive ”hunk of funk” Ohio style. The album was certified gold by RIAA in July of the same year and the band received Grammy nominations for best new group and best male group.

By the 3rd.album, ”The Concept” in 1978 they added Steve Arrington, Starleana Young and Curt Jones. but still hadn’t had a hit single since ”slide” on the 1st album. In preparing for their 4th album the record company let them know that this might be their last shot before getting dropped from the label if they didn’t come up with a hit single. The pressure was on and slave delivered in a big way with the release of the single “just a touch of love” from the album of the same name, in the fall of 1979. It was a smash hit from the start. The lead vocals were performed by new comer Steve Arrington who was also the drummer.

With Arrington on lead vocals, Slave was on a roll the 5th lp stone jam produced the hit single “watching you”. Their 6th LP, ”Showtime” was the band most successful (and the last LP before Arrington would leave the group for a solo career) produced hit singles ”Wait for Me”, ”Snapshot” and ”Party Lites”. During this period, the group made appearances on Soul Train and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert in 1982.

At the same time the group’s lineup underwent several personnel changes. In 1980 Steve Washington, Tom Lockett, Starleana Young and Curt Jones left Slave to form the group AURRA. In 1982 Steve Arrington left the group to pursue a solo career. Even with turnover and revolving personnel. Slave has always maintained their identity and signature sound.

The acceptance that Slave found during their 1984 UK tour proved to be the real catalyst in their career. Determined to break new ground, they left Atlantic/Cotillion and signed with ichiban records, resulting in three well received and best selling albums. On their fourth release, THE FUNK STRIKES BACK, SLAVE was fronted by Mark Adams, bass guitar; Danny Webster, guitar and lead vocals (original lead singer before Steve Arrington) and drummer Keith Nash. The three musicians made up a formidable rhythm section, and they have always surrounded themselves with highly qualified players. Original slave member Mark ”Drac” Hicks was bought back in the fold to share guitar duties with Danny Webster like on the early albums. The lead vocals were performed by Mr. T. Vantrease.

With the release of their fifth album on ichiban, MASTER S OF THE FUNGK, SLAVE continued to reawaken their die hard fan base as well attract plenty new fans. the following original members are featured on this reunion album: Mark ”Mr. Mark” Adams, bass guitar; Danny Webster, lead & rhythm guitar, lead & background vocals: Floyd Miller, horns & percussions; Mark ”Drac’ Hicks, lead guitar; Roger Parker, drums & percussions; and Keith Nash, drums, keyboards & vocals. With their own special formula and distinctive, unique sound "Slave” has become one of the most sampled groups from the 70’s.

SLAVE ALBUMS: Slave (Cotillion 1977); The Hardness of the World (Cotillion 1977); The Concept (Cotillion 19