Fred Wesley
Biography
As the longtime musical director for soul legend James Brown's renowned backing unit the J.B.'s, trombonist Fred Wesley was the world's most famous sideman, orchestrating the sinuous grooves and contributing the bold, surgically precise solos that defined the language of funk. Born July 4, 1943, in Columbus, GA, Wesley was raised in Mobile, AL. At age three, he studied classical piano under his grandmother, a music teacher, but much preferred the big-band music played by his father, Fred Wesley, Sr., who also chaired the music department at Mobile Central High School. Wesley, Jr. remained with the piano until middle school, first adopting the trumpet before moving to the trombone. He made his professional debut at age 12 in a big band led by his school's music teacher, E.B. Coleman, and soon was sitting in with local R&B acts as well. While studying music at Alabama State University, Wesley briefly tenured with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue as well as Hank Ballard & the Midnighters before serving in the U.S. Army, playing with the 55th Army Band and graduating from the Armed Forces School of Music. After returning from military duty in 1967, Wesley formed his own project, the Mastersound, fusing R&B with hard bop. The group splintered within a year, however, and when he received a phone call from J.B.'s trumpeter Waymon Reed, who told him Brown was seeking a new trombonist, Wesley accepted the offer. . As the longtime musical director for soul legend James Brown's renowned backing unit the J.B.'s, trombonist Fred Wesley was the world's most famous sideman, orchestrating the sinuous grooves and contributing the bold, surgically precise solos that defined the language of funk. Born July 4, 1943, in Columbus, GA, Wesley was raised in Mobile, AL. At age three, he studied classical piano under his grandmother, a music teacher, but much preferred the big-band music played by his father, Fred Wesley, Sr., who also chaired the music department at Mobile Central High School. Wesley, Jr. remained with the piano until middle school, first adopting the trumpet before moving to the trombone. He made his professional debut at age 12 in a big band led by his school's music teacher, E.B. Coleman, and soon was sitting in with local R&B acts as well. While studying music at Alabama State University, Wesley briefly tenured with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue as well as Hank Ballard & the Midnighters before serving in the U.S. Army, playing with the 55th Army Band and graduating from the Armed Forces School of Music. After returning from military duty in 1967, Wesley formed his own project, the Mastersound, fusing R&B with hard bop. The group splintered within a year, however, and when he received a phone call from J.B.'s trumpeter Waymon Reed, who told him Brown was seeking a new trombonist, Wesley accepted the offer.
Top Albums |
1. Black Caesar..
| 2. Wuda Cuda Sh..
| 3. Say Blow By ..
| 4. Let It Flow ..
| 5. To Someone
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6. House Party
| 7. Swing & ..
| 8. Fred Wesley ..
| 9. Amalgamation
| 10. Essentials V..
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11. New Friends
| 12. 12 Jazz Visi..
| 13. What You Lik..
| 14. Comme Ci Com..
| 15. The Peanut M..
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16. In the Air -..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Doing It to Death, Pt. 1 (Single) | Pass the Peas: The Best of .. | 5:06 | $1.29 | |
2. | Moose the Mooche | Comme Ci Comme Ca | 4:14 | $0.99 | |
3. | This One Is for You | Comme Ci Comme Ca | 5:29 | $0.99 | |
4. | Just Like That | Comme Ci Comme Ca | 4:15 | $0.99 | |
5. | On Green Dolphin Street | Comme Ci Comme Ca | 7:19 | $0.99 | |
6. | Love in L.A. | Comme Ci Comme Ca | 5:19 | $0.99 | |
7. | Ghetto (feat. Ce Ce Rogers, Fred Wes.. | Ghetto (Featuring Ce Ce Rog.. | 5:10 | $0.99 | |
8. | He Will See Us Thru | Blue Moon Risin' | 6:22 | $0.99 | |
9. | Cadillac Woman | Blue Moon Risin' | 2:59 | $0.99 | |
10. | Can't Stop Loving You | Blue Moon Risin' | 3:49 | $0.99 | |
11. | User Me | Blue Moon Risin' | 4:28 | $0.99 | |
12. | Blue Moon Risin' | Blue Moon Risin' | 6:03 | $0.99 | |
13. | Fever | Blue Moon Risin' | 3:49 | $0.99 | |
14. | Blue Has Got to Go | Blue Moon Risin' | 3:49 | $0.99 | |
15. | You're Fine | Blue Moon Risin' | 3:31 | $0.99 | |
16. | Glasshouse | Blue Moon Risin' | 4:12 | $0.99 | |
17. | Stop & Think | Blue Moon Risin' | 4:04 | $0.99 | |
18. | Soft Soul and All That Jazz | Amalgamation | 6:18 | $0.99 | |
19. | Trick Bag | Amalgamation | 4:47 | $0.99 | |
20. | Next Thing I Knew | Amalgamation | 5:11 | $0.99 | |
21. | Herbal Turkey Breast | Amalgamation | 6:29 | $0.99 | |
22. | Careless Whisper | Amalgamation | 7:27 | $0.99 | |
23. | My Neighbourhood | Amalgamation | 4:50 | $0.99 | |
24. | Peace Power | Amalgamation | 6:25 | $0.99 | |
25. | Bop To the Boogie (Live) | Swing & Be Funky (Live) | 8:57 | $0.99 | |
Top Music Videos |
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