![]() 5 in Canada, and the band embarked on a lengthy U.S. Meanwhile, the single went on to reach No. Perception promptly leased the tune from France's Musidisc Records and prepared the group, now re-established in Olcott, New York, to record a full-length album titled after the single. However, in 1972, "Dancing in the Moonlight" began to generate interest back home in America, where the original four members signed with the Perception label. The single languished, and the group again (temporarily) disbanded. A 45 rpm record of "Dancing in the Moonlight" was released in Paris, with "Lady, Come on Home" on the B-side. Contrary to Boffalongo's original version, which included such disparate players as jazz flutist Jeremy Steig and Peter Giansante on drums, the King Harvest recording was more scaled back. The song was produced by Jack Robinson of Robin Song Music. Reportedly, Cutler performed the drum/percussion parts on the recording using a toilet scrubbing brush, as opposed to the traditional drumsticks. Steve Cutler, a jazz drummer and fellow expatriate from New York, joined King Harvest for their last six months in Paris, recording "Dancing in the Moonlight" and playing clubs and concerts in Paris and London. It was Wells Kelly who convinced the group to revisit "Dancing in the Moonlight", but he left Paris before the song was recorded. Throughout these early days in Paris, King Harvest also performed and recorded under pseudonyms, such as E. Īlso in 1971, King Harvest was invited to write and perform songs for the French film, Le Feu Sacré, which represented France at that year's Cannes Film Festival. Curiously, although Doc Robinson is apparently pictured on the album cover, he is not credited in the liner notes as having performed on the album. Once solidified as a unit, King Harvest won a Rock and Roll contest/talent show, and by the end of 1971, with Alexandre and Wells Kelly now established as band members, the group had recorded and released their Europe-only debut LP, I Can Tell. Altbach also studied classical music with Nadia Boulanger. Sherman Kelly's brother, drummer Wells Kelly, who went on to form the band Orleans, also served a brief stint in the group both in Paris and in the US.Īs group members gradually made their way to Paris, they became involved in session work individually, performing on albums by the likes of Jacques Morali and Nancy Holloway. Sherman Kelly had previously performed together with Robinson in the band Boffalongo, who first recorded "Dancing in the Moonlight" in 1970. At one point, the band consisted of three keyboardists, with fellow Cornell alumnus Sherman Kelly (who wrote "Dancing in the Moonlight") joining Altbach and Robinson on the instrument. French musician Didier Alexandre was among the first to join the quartet, becoming a member of the group in the early 1970s. ![]() Although the band's membership fluctuated constantly over the next five years, it always included its four core co-founders. However, one by one, each of the four former bandmates would migrate to Paris that same year, where they reformed King Harvest, now as expatriates. The group broke up for the first time in 1971. At this point, the group primarily played cover tunes by such artists as Sly and the Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, and The Band, among others, at fraternities, bars, and other local colleges. King Harvest's original four members first formed the group in 1969 in Ithaca, New York, where all four-Dave "Doc" Robinson ( lead vocals/ bass/ keyboards), Ron Altbach (keyboards), Ed Tuleja ( guitar), and Rod Novak ( saxophone)-were attending Cornell University. They took their name after the 1969 song " King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" by The Band, one of their musical influences. They are known for their 1972 hit single " Dancing in the Moonlight". King Harvest was a 1970s French-American rock band who was formed initially in Ithaca, New York State, U.S., but broke up and reformed in Paris where they began recording their first songs. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |