Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

Dr. Buzzard's Original
Savannah Band
Origin New York, New York, U.S.
Genres Soul, big band, disco
Years active 1976–1979
Labels RCA
Associated acts Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Coati Mundi
Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band
Past members Cory Daye
Stony Browder
Mickey Sevilla
Andy Hernandez
August Darnell

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was a big band- and swing-influenced disco band, formed in the Bronx, New York. They are best known for their #1 US dance hit, "Cherchez La Femme/C'est si bon", from their self-titled debut album.

History

The band was conceived by half-brothers Stony Browder Jr. (February 7, 1949 October 6, 2001)[1] and Thomas Browder (also known as August Darnell, born August 12, 1950), with the former writing music and the latter lyrics. They started the band in 1974 with singer Cory Daye, drummer Mickey Sevilla, and percussionist Andy Hernandez (Coati Mundi).[2] They released three albums between 1976 and 1979. Their music blended disco beats with rhythms from genres including calypso, rhumba, cha-cha-chá, and compas. The Browders, who were both multiracial, wrote songs embracing multiculturalism over stories about tragic mulattoes.[3] A smaller lineup known as Dr Buzzard's Savannah Band (omitting the word "original") also released a fourth album in 1984. They were frequent performers at Studio 54. Darnell and Hernandez went on to form Kid Creole and the Coconuts and Elbow Bones and the Racketeers. Daye also pursued a successful solo career.

Their 1976 song, "Sunshower", has been sampled by a number of artists, including A Tribe Called Quest, M.I.A., Ghostface Killah, De La Soul, and Doug E. Fresh.[4] It was remixed by Japanese recording artist Fantastic Plastic Machine. It was remixed by Korean musical group The Green Tea. It was featured in the 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood. The song "Cherchez La Femme" was covered by Gloria Estefan on her 1994 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me album and was covered by rapper Ghostface Killah in 2000, as "Cherchez LaGhost" on his Supreme Clientele album.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[5]
US
R&B

[5]
AUS
[6]
CAN
[7]
NLD
[8]
1976 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band 22 31 39 87 13
  • RIAA: Gold [9]
RCA
1978 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King Penett 36 23 29
1979 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington Elektra
1984 Calling All Beatniks! Passport
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions
US
[5]
US
R&B

[5]
US
Dan

[5]
AUS
[6]
CAN
[7]
NLD
[8]
1976 "I'll Play the Fool" 80 92 1 100 19
"Cherchez La Femme" 27 31 49 23 2
"Sour and Sweet" 72
1978 "Mister Love" 22
"Organ Grinder"
"Auf Wiedersehen, Darrio"
"Transistor Madness"
1979 "Didn't I Love You Girl"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also

Notes

  1. Stony Browder, Death Record
  2. Shapiro 2005, p. 174.
  3. Shapiro 2005, p. 176.
  4. "Sunshower - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". WhoSampled. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "US Charts > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  6. 1 2 David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. 1 2 "CAN Charts > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". RPM. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  8. 1 2 "NLD Charts > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  9. "US Certifications > Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2016-02-01.

References

External links

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