Highlighters

The Highlighters are celebrated in deep funk collectors’ circles because of their 1969 underground classic “The Funky 16 Sides.” Produced at Indianapolis’ Crispus Attucks SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL in 1963, the initial lineup of saxophonist Cliff Palmer, trumpeter Clifford Ratliff, organist Richard “Boola” Ball, bassist Richard Corbin, and drummer Adam “Porkchop” Edwards drew their preliminary inspiration from contemporary jazz, but quickly advanced into an R&B clothing. Managed by Supplement Miller, owner from the Indianapolis record shop Great Vibrations, the group frequently shared expenses with local gal group the Tri-Dells, and their career started taking off, military services duties compelled the Highlighters to be on hiatus in 1966. Upon coming back stateside in middle-1968, just Palmer and Ball portrayed a pastime in reuniting the group, therefore guitarist Adam Brantley, bassist Adam Boone, and drummer Dewayne Garvin (a previous military services drummer whose exclusively syncopated style demonstrated necessary to the band’s distinct approach) had been recruited to create a revamped roster. While going to a local resort lounge, Brantley chanced upon vocalist Adam Bell, and along with his addition the traditional Highlighters lineup was comprehensive. In the springtime of 1969, WTLC DJ Paul Main released the band’s debut one, “Poppin’ Snacks” on his Rojam label — a progenitor from the so-called “snacks soul” trend and a rumored impact on Wayne Brown’s own substantial “Mother Snacks,” “Poppin’ Snacks” became a preferred of another WTLC radio character, Spider Harrison, and because of stable airplay it rocketed to the very best from the Indianapolis R&B graphs. But queries about Major’s accounting methods led to a falling-out, as well as the Highlighters produced their very own label, Three Diamond jewelry, release a the follow-up, “The Funky 16 Sides” — compiled by Bell while on a rest from his time job on the Ford Electric motor Company and motivated with the Four Edges dance trend, the solitary was documented that exact same night in only one take, and its own spontaneity and frenzy are impressive. “The Funky 16 Edges” was another regional blockbuster, as well as the Highlighters used residence as the home band at the favorite Indy nightspot Daddy Ray’s 20 Grand. They started making programs to tour the East Coastline when erstwhile drummer “Porkchop” Edwards came back from Vietnam, challenging his reinstatement towards the group. Votes had been solid and Garvin was dismissed — the chemistry was no more the same, nevertheless, and within a fortnight Bell resigned, quickly accompanied by Ball. Amid this turmoil Three Gemstones released one last solitary, 1970’s “Looking to get Chosen,” acknowledged to Wayne Bell & the Highlighters Music group and a latter-day preferred on Britain’s North soul golf club circuit. The lineup of Palmer, Brantley, Boone, and Edwards following recorded “Having just a little Beliefs” for the neighborhood Lulu label before putting your signature on to the famous Chess Information — the group journeyed to Chicago to record six music for the business, with only 1 single, itself entitled “Lulu,” ever gaining official discharge. After finally touring the East Coastline, the Highlighters officially dissolved in 1971, with Ball, Brantley, and Boone reuniting in the Tempo Machine. Bell and Garvin afterwards joined pushes in Adam Bell & the Turner Brothers to record another minimal traditional, “The Funky Buzzard” — Garvin also offered as the touring drummer behind Marvin Gaye in 1974. More than two decades afterwards, a Highlighters renaissance started in earnest when their early singles had been rediscovered by enthusiasts and DJs — practically overnight the information began commanding absurd sums of profit enthusiasts’ circles, leading to the reissue of “The Funky 16 Sides” over the Rocks Toss label. The resurgence appealing prompted Bell and Garvin to reconnect and type the brand new Highlighters with brothers Clint and Dan Jones on acoustic guitar and Kenneth Burke on bass — they actually revived Three Gemstones to release prepared new material.