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Members
6 Male
Origin
Kansas City, KS USA
Genre
Funk
Style
Urban/R&B
Mood
---
Born
6 MaleOrigin
Kansas City, KS USAGenre
FunkStyle
Urban/R&BMood
---
Born
1962
Active
---Present...
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Most Loved Tracks4 users
Bloodstone - Natural High4 users
Bloodstone - Outside Woman4 users
Bloodstone - Who Has the Last Laugh Now4 users
Bloodstone - We Go a Long Way Back4 users
Bloodstone - We Go a Long Way Back
Music Video LinksArtist Biography
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Formed in 1962, in Kansas City, Missouri, the group was a high school doo-wop group called The Sinceres. In 1967-68 they were backed by and toured with a large Kansas City horn band known as the Smokin' Emeralds and performed their version of a Motown-style review which drew large crowds at a venue called the Place in the Westport district of KC. By 1971, the band consisted of Melvin Webb on drums, Roger Durham on percussion, Charles Love on guitar and vocals, Charles McCormick on bass, Harry Williams on percussion, and Willis Draffen on guitar.
Around 1971, the group moved to Los Angeles, California, and met their prospective managers George Braunstein and Ron Hamady. They also replaced their drummer Melvin Webb with Eddie Summers. The new managers decided to change their name from The Sinceres to Bloodstone. Later the group traveled to London, England where they earned a recording contract with Decca Records. Their first album was titled "Bloodstone", from which there were two singles released simultaneously, "That's The Way We Make Our Music", and "Girl (You Look So Fine)", both written and arranged by Eddie Summers. Their second album, "Natural High" reached the US R&B Top 10, with the title single reaching number 10 on the Pop chart.
Bloodstone became known for their funk/soul tracks that blended Jimi Hendrix-styled rock music with doo-wop and gospel music undertones. The group's other hits include "Never Let You Go", "Outside Woman" and "My Little Lady". Bloodstone was instrumental in the "black rock" and funk movement of the 1970s, and even had a hand in the brown-eyed soul movement with some Latin music-tinged hits. Bloodstone performed with Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Elton John, and The Impressions. Their 1973 album "Natural High", produced by Mike Vernon, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in July that year. They achieved a moderate comeback in the early 1980s with McCormick replacement Ron Wilson. Their album "We Go a Long Way Back" (1982) produced a couple hits, with the title track reaching the R&B chart Top 5, and the follow-up single "Go On and Cry" reaching number 18. The group continued to record into the mid 1980s. They continue to tour and perform to this day with original members Charles McCormick, Charles Love, Harry Williams and newer member Donald Brown. Bloodstone also starred in and wrote all the music for a film entitled Train Ride To Hollywood (1975). Founding member Willis Draffen died on February 8, 2002 at the age of 56.
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