“I always had a knack for wearing sharp outfits — and shopping at boutiques, hence the nickname Boutique, which later evolved into the ‘Bo-Teek’ pronunciation," he explained. “I’m honored.”. Smith developed much of his musical expertise under the direction of Hopewell High School band director Victor Pasquarelli. This was an era when they targeted their passions and concentrated on becoming the area’s premier musicians. Though his skills were comparable to his contemporaries such as Kirk Whalum and Najee, Pettis took his saxophone talents to another level in Japan and China. Whitaker, a college graduate, is divorced, has five children and three grandchildren, and is a semi-retired executive in the senior citizen health industry. I really enjoyed their vibe,” Abercrombie said. But they never left us. "Collectively, their musical gifts and skills embodied their upbringing in the Black church and training in African American musical traditions.". “Our connections to both of those groups are still vital to our success, even now,” Jones said. Space.com is where humanity’s journey to new and exciting worlds is transmitted back down to Earth. Somehow cramming six rapid-fire albums into their 12 years together, the movement known in Japan as the “girls metal band boom” of the 2010s, … "No matter where our travels have taken us, when we reunite, it’s like a family get-together. When the band decided to make the trek to Atlanta in January 1983, female vocalist/keyboardist Paulette Caperris also made the trip. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles, where she joined forces with the group, SNAP, and was affiliated with mega hip-hop/pop hits, “I Got the Power” and “Rhythm is a Dancer.” She learned to play the guitar and also records and programs computer tracks and writes new music, including a Steelers Nation tribute she hopes will catch on as the team's NFL playoff hopes ascend. Abercrombie credited Sounds Unlimited, a band featuring ex-Motown bassist Eugene “Woody” Smith and bandleader Ronnie Cox, for keeping Beaver County’s soul music flame alive in the new millennium. An audition produced a reliable replacement vocalist for Townsend — Thea Austin of Clairton, who was also studying at Pitt, as was Pettis. It’s kinda flipped from lots of other Black musicians.”. Instead, good musicianship provided a viable alternative to youngsters who may have failed on the hoop court, gridiron or simply lacked athletic prowess. Though he’s now considered a household name in Atlanta's competitive R&B community, he credited his early onstage experiences as “many teachable moments.”. When the band’s plans didn't pan out, Austin said she returned to Pittsburgh and joined a 1950s revue band and a jazz trio. I have no regrets. “We grew up in the 'Hollar' (Valley Terrace area), attended McDonald Elementary School together, on through our 1969 high school graduation. Gary Pihl thinks very highly of him, saying, “Jeff is great to have in the band because he is so down to earth and matter of fact. B.E. He vividly recalled his football glory days when he starred in the Aliquippa backfield with quarterback and Rare Experience bandmate Sylvester Price. He has a journalism degree from Point Park University and attended Slippery Rock University and Community College of Beaver County. They remained committed to Rare Experience,” he said. An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works The couple met when Rare Experience performed at the legendary Mason’s Hotel & Lounge in her hometown of New Kensington. “Those two were hot commodities in Atlanta. (None of the previously signed all-white acts, The Rustix, The Dalton Boys, or The Underdogs, had any hits.) This would be the start of what would become the young phenomenal self-contained group that morphed into the county’s most prolific R&B band. Tyson remembered when Jones joined the group. His brother, bassist Michael Otey, still lives in Atlanta, has children and plays music on a more limited basis compared with his former bandmates. Tyson also serves on the audio-visual ministries staff at Macedonia Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. When we were in school, we didn’t have the sports success. Not long after the special performance, she died of cancer. The band's lineup, as heard on both of these albums was John Doukas, Robbie Dunbar (older brother of the Rubinoos' … At first, we had about 15 people in the band, but eventually, we pared it down to a more dedicated and talented smaller crew,” he said. Jones noted that of all the players that originally left Aliquippa in January 1983, no one has returned. While a student at the Unniversity of Pittsburgh, his ties to Nathan Davis, chairman of Pitt’s Jazz Department, allowed him and Sewickley’s Rex Rideout opportunities to tour with jazz greats such as Roy Ayers and Grover Washington Jr. “At this time, I was very eager to go South looking for the ‘big time.’”. Jones said Austin’s role was primarily as a recording soloist, while Capperis was as a keyboardist/vocalist, which created a more diverse front-stage presence. Abercrombie, 63, and his wife of 21 years, Tamyka Allison Abercrombie, live in Aliquippa and are the parents of two college-educated children. Unlike today's counterparts, yesterday’s young were not fixed on becoming top videogame rompers. Get Ready is the RIAA Platinum-certified second studio album by American blues rock band Rare Earth. “It’s a different era," Tyson said. For me, it all started playing in bands. Pasquarelli was cool. Campbell is married with two adult sons. He’s a pastor and vocalist at an Atlanta area church. Tyson also credited The Granati Brothers and owners of Brighton Music Center for their support when the band was in its beginning stages. And, now it’s instilled in me on Sunday mornings. But after a year, returned home and got a job at Westinghouse. “But, we never let that stop us.” The group enjoyed agency top-status for engagements throughout Southeast Conference university campuses, he said. was always genuine when it came to Black people. They can aspire to be Ty Law, Tony Dorsett or Darrelle Revis — they see it, and they believe it can happen,” said Tyson, who lives in Center Township with his wife of 33 years, Lori Griffin Tyson. “They showed us mad love when we first moved to Decatur, Georgia.". “Bongo Bobby,” as one of his group members dubbed him, said he joined the group mainly through affiliations with his uncle and Midland saxophonist, Del Fielder. “Unlike today’s artists who may record a YouTube or Instagram video, and hope for several 'likes' from their friends and relatives, we did it the hard way. Still, a common thread that existed among Rare Experience members was their spiritual ties. Price said he still enjoys secular music, but from another view. By high school, he was starting quarterback on the Aliquippa football team and a basketball star. WAMO-FM radio account executive Philip Billingsea recalled B.E. “Winky” Pettis is a music mogul in Shanghai, China. “In junior high, I sang in school choirs and played some guitar,” Price said. A career union truck driver, Abercrombie retired from the McDanel Corp. in Beaver Falls. Though Rare Experience never reached major acclaim as a recording group in Atlanta, Jones has worked as music director for the nationally televised "Soul Train Awards," as well as being keyboardist and music director for Outkast, TLC and Toni Braxton. “Mr. “My life still centers around music, and probably always will,” said Austin, who started singing in elementary school, and later sang at weddings and funerals at her hometown Morningside Baptist Church in Clairton. Not until Black Sabbath upended the music scene did the term “heavy metal” enter the popular vocabulary to describe the denser, more thunderous offshoot of rock over which they presided. As a native Aliquippian, Abercrombie has a solid knowledge of all the early members of Rare Experience, in addition to a keen recollection of many other Aliquippa area musicians. Duck’s father, Frank Abercrombie, played piano and worked as a crane operator at J&L Steel. Ted B. Price was married by 1979, and like Tyson, both young family men opted not to move South to fulfill Rare Experience's musical dreams. “We were quite popular playing clubs, cabarets and events throughout the county, in Pittsburgh and other outlying areas like New Kensington, Clairton, 'Little' Washington, Uniontown and area colleges,” Edgar “Buck” Jackson recalled. He has the distinction of growing up in Aliquippa and Beaver Falls during Rare Experience's soul music supremacy in Beaver County. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Tyson said he doesn’t criticize today’s local youth for not gravitating to bands as his generation once did. Jones also worked with Usher, New Edition, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant, while Smith was the music director for such acts as SWV, TLC, Jermaine Dupree, Sleepy Brown, Keith Sweat, Goodie Mob, 112 and Escape. Aliquippa saxophonist Sonny Childs, who turns 90 on Jan. 3, said clubs like Midland’s Love’s Motel (aka Hole in the Wall), the New Pro Club on Junction Stretch in New Brighton (managed by James Mathews) and the Beaver Falls’ Rainbow Room were important live-music venues in the Beaver Valley. At 73, he now lives in Oakland, California, but served multi-roles with the early group, including emcee and hype-man, roadie and sound engineer. Before moving to Orlando, guitarist Fred Campbell also lived in Atlanta and saw first-hand the excellent rapport between Jones, Smith and artists like Larry Blackmon of Cameo, Ray Ransom of Brick and Abdul Ra’oof of the SOS Band. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from Rare Earth at the Discogs Marketplace. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I recall practicing at Reggie’s house in the basement. Jackson also thanked both of his Rare Experience bandmates for staying the course. Along with himself, Tyson recalled the following original members: Rodney “Duck” Abercrombie (drums); Fred Campbell (guitar); Andre Redd (trumpet); Billy “Whit” Whitaker (bass); vocalist brothers Sheridan “Sherdy” Southerland and Thomas Southerland; Vastine “Winky” Pettis (alto sax/vocals); Aaron White (trumpet); Edgar "Buck" Jackson (tenor sax/vocals) and cousins Reggie “Wizard” Jones (keys, multi-instruments) and Allan “Grip” Smith (keys); Napoleon “Nap” Thompson (trombone) and vocalist Sylvester “Boutique” Price. He earned a full athletic scholarship to Tuskegee University in Alabama. Joins Blind Melon from Wales Uk Eddie Vedder explained in the Pearl Jam 20 documentary about Black: “It’s very rare for a relationship to withstand the Earth’s gravitational pull and where it’s going to take people and how they’re going to grow. He’s married with two sons, the oldest being the touring drummer for the SOS Band. The Logstown native also worked at J&L Steel Corp. while playing sax with the Fabulous Embers of Beaver Falls. He credited older musicians like William “B.E.” Taylor, Mickey Cherico and Ray DeLisio for their welcoming attitude to help the band develop as young music businessmen. The nickname “Boutique” stuck, due to his penchant for wearing the latest clothing gear. Another memorable gig was the live show by 1950s vocal giant, Lloyd Price, at the Polish Hall near the Quippian Club, he added. White, a father of two adult children, said he learned his basic skills while hanging out at the Beaver Falls Elks Club and closely observing drummers Kenny “KT” Thompson, Bobby Crutcher and Cecil Washington of Pittsburgh. Today, it’s more about the computer and the technology or maybe a one-time TV appearance.”. In Beaver County, the probability of becoming a professional musician was a devout reality, whereas so was becoming a professional athlete — considering the acclaim of Hopewell Township’s Anthony “Hawk” Dorsett, Aliquippa’s Mike Ditka and Beaver Falls’ Joe Willie Namath. “Whatever the need was, I stepped in,” said Lewis, a nine-time grandfather with three adult children. Potential record deals with MCA, Polydor and SOLAR records never came to fruition, Jones said. He’s also a former employee of Aliquippa’s Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. and the B.F. Jones Library. Abercrombie noted the bond between Whitaker and himself when they formed the rhythm section for the Church in the Round's music ministry. Sylvester “Sly” Washington, 61, is an Aliquippa native who currently keeps live music intact in Beaver County. Another nephew, Christian Norman, plays gospel keys, drums and bass guitar in Pittsburgh. "For those of us privileged to have witnessed and grooved with this ‘soul-stirring’ legendary band," he said, "their legacy remains intact.". Sometime around 1973, the origins of what would eventually become Rare Experience, started in a couple of Plan 11 neighborhoods. Once known more for his football prowess at Beaver Falls High School, White also was a member of another Aliquippa band called The Hi-Fidelics. They were being courted by heavyweights, including Earth, Wind & Fire. “They were from rural Mississippi, so they had sort of a country flavor,” he said. As the lone Beaver Falls member of Rare Experience, White is unique to the group. In the past 20 years, White has performed at several internationally renowned music shows, such as Montreux, Essence and Newport jazz festivals. “Rare Experience was unique because they were a cross-over band, too. Later, Robert “Bobby” White (percussion) and brothers Michael (bass) and Maurice Otey (drums) joined the fold, while Aliquippa vocalists Stephanie Townsend, Paula Capperis (keys) and Clairton resident Thea Austin, also became valued members. As the son of the talented organist George Jones, “Wizard” grew up on the road playing guitar and organ with his father’s bands. Austin was among the Rare Experience members who relocated to Atlanta: Jones, Smith, Caperris, Jackson, White and the Otey brothers. It really was a village who supported us — our parents knew this took us off the streets and kept us out of trouble.". ... a rare move within Silicon Valley that is set to increase tensions between the tech giant and its employees. As the fourth of eight children, Price also had a love for athletics. Guitarist John Parker Compton and violinist Robin Batteau were playing the coffeehouse circuit together in Cambridge during the late '60s before forming the band Appaloosa. Jeff joined the group in 2002, adding his energetic, entertaining style of drumming to the ’03 and ’04 tours, and excellent harmony vocal chops. Hopefully, it’ll all get revved up once again by next year,” said Childs, an Americus, Georgia, native who recently gigged with Coffee’s Love Train band, led by keyboardist Dwight “Coffee” Thomas of Midland. “Over there, he’s on a par with a Quincy Jones,” Abercrombie said. "I also played in my father’s band,” he said. His son, Anthony Price, is a well-respected gospel keyboardist, while his nephew, Phillipe Price, plays bass with the Bill Henry Band, a top Pittsburgh soul band. Jackson, along with Wizard Jones, Grip Smith and Michael Otey, are still Atlanta residents. The success of their first two albums - Black Sabbath and Paranoid - marked a paradigm shift in the world of rock. [2], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Get_Ready_(Rare_Earth_album)&oldid=1000440733, Short description is different from Wikidata, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 January 2021, at 03:26. ‘1970’ is a new 3-disc set, released by popular demand on February 26. But Dr. Steals said we needed something more unique and marketable — and he suggested Rare Experience.”. “All that experience set him up to become ‘the Wizard’ that we all respect, love and appreciate.". Where we vicariously explore the cosmos with astronauts, astrophysicists and enthusiasts. Yet, it’s generally agreed upon by many, including musicians from that bygone era, that Rare Experience remains the pride of Aliquippa — the one band that garnered the most acclaim of the many that formed in the 1950s and existed throughout the new millennium. The center diamond blooms from a gallery of diamond petals, which is complimented by additional accent diamonds on the band. Rare Earth [Prodigal] Prodigal Records 1978 : Grand Slam: Culture Factory / L.M.L.R. Pettis, a Quigley High School graduate, is also a married family man. Though he still plays bass guitar, Billy “Whit” Whitaker, 62, mostly performs on Sundays at Missouri City Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. As time would have it, music remains his passion and vocation. Rodney “Duck” Abercrombie also contributed to this article. Timothy Cox is a Beaver Falls native and professional musician. The official Black Sabbath website. These collaborations created a vibrant live-music vibe in Beaver County. He’s married with children, according to members. Mama (Betty) Jones would feed us after every rehearsal — they looked after me like another family member. We call that success,” he said. While their overall relocation to the South did not pan-out as the major break-through the band envisioned, the move proved to be worthwhile. Abercrombie noted, “There are so many people to thank for our development. “Rook” Lewis was a self-described “OG” for the original band. Jones and Smith both credited groups, such as Brick and SOS Band, for including them in the scene, even though they were newcomers to Atlanta. Steals and his brother, Mervin, composed the megahit song, “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” performed by The Spinners. Rehearse to get a gig, and prove to the club owner that you can fill his/her room, sell drinks and sell food," he said. As a young father and husband, Tyson said he chose not to risk leaving Aliquippa. In the early 1970s, young aspiring Black musicians were scattered throughout Beaver County, western Pennsylvania and, of course, the entire greater Pittsburgh region. “I subbed for their drummer, KT Thompson, on occasion. She sings in the Christian Lighthouse Ministries choir. It’s a genuine bond between all of us,” Abercrombie said. Discover. Abercrombie agreed with Jackson, adding that “the commitment reigns mutual throughout all the players, to this day.". We put together a list of our favorite engagement ring designs featuring beautiful surprise details: Zinnia Diamond Ring When viewed from the side, the Zinnia Ring showcases its intricate design and full sparkle. Smith was the head drummer in the Viking marching band and also played keyboards in jazz and swing bands. While he’s considered the baby of the bunch, during Rare Experience's formative years, Reginald “Wizard” Jones, now 58, was also considered the group’s most gifted member. “We were a bunch of young kids, really, who were very interested in being musicians. Other area church affiliation with group members are Bethel Baptist, St. John’s, St. Titus, Christian Lighthouse, Triedstone Baptist, Tabernacle Baptist, Second Baptist, Waymen Chapel, Deliverance Temple, Ebenezer AME, Sound the Alarm Ministries, Bethel AME and Mount Olive Baptist Church.