Beggar and Co
Encyclopedia
Beggar & Co are a group composed of core members Kenny Wellington, David Baptiste, Neville 'Breeze' McKrieth and other guest musicians, specialising in jazzfunk and dance music. Baptiste, Wellington and McKrieth were the founder members of the group Light Of The World who were originally formed to play some jazzfunk and dance music but also enjoyed some chart success in the UK Top 75 with music from the 'Roundtrip' album. 'London Town', 'I Shot The Sherrif' and 'Time' all entered the UK charts. Each of these songs were featured on various compilations albums which were certified as gold records and greatly increased the exposure and popularity of the group.
At this juncture various members began to record in offshoot bands, the most popular being Incognito led by Jean Paul Maunick. Gee Bello formed a short lived group The Team and recorded a well-received dance floor hit 'Wicky Wacky/House Party' originally recorded by The Fatback Band and Fred Wesley and The JB's respectively.
Wellington, Baptiste and McKrieth formed Beggar & Co and experienced immediate chart success outselling the previous biggest LOTW hit 'Time' which they had also written with their first two releases. The first release was called (Somebody) Help Me Out, which entered the chart
on 7 February 1981. It reached number 15 and was in the chart for ten weeks. The second was called "Mule (Chant No.2)", which entered the chart on 12 September 1981, and reached number 37, remaining in the chart for five weeks. It is worth noting, that most records sold by the band were not sold in chart return shops something which affected most artists in these genre. As a consequence these artists generally sold higher quantities of recordings than reflected by chart positions.
Beggar & Co was also the featured brass section on a number of chart records for other artists including the Spandau Ballet
hit single
, "Chant No.1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", which itself peaked at number two in the chart. Other artists include Ultravox
, Wham, George Michael
, Gabrielle, Billy Ocean
and many more.
The horn section - David Baptiste, Kenny Wellington and Nat Augustin - have made many appearances with artists from both the UK and USA including many from the jazzfunk and soul genres. Such artists include trumpeter Tom Browne, vocalist Jean Carne and The Jones Girls.
In 2009 the band released a live recording from The Jazz Cafe Brass, Strings N' Things. This was the first release in many years and was followed in May 2011 by a new studio recording The Legacy on MBJ Records.Current members of the band alongside the original members are Billy Osborne (drums), Otto Williams (bass), Camelle Hinds (bass), Harry Brown (trombone), Toby Baker (keyboards), Peter Hinds (keyboards), Robert 'Skins' Anderson (percussion),Noel McKoy (vocals), Orphy Robinson (vibraphone).
Both Kenny Wellington and David Baptiste have also released solo recordings. Kenny Wellington and Richard Bull also produced the album 'Inner Voices' which included the popular songs ' Blue Sky Day' and 'Bahia' Light of the World.
At this juncture various members began to record in offshoot bands, the most popular being Incognito led by Jean Paul Maunick. Gee Bello formed a short lived group The Team and recorded a well-received dance floor hit 'Wicky Wacky/House Party' originally recorded by The Fatback Band and Fred Wesley and The JB's respectively.
Wellington, Baptiste and McKrieth formed Beggar & Co and experienced immediate chart success outselling the previous biggest LOTW hit 'Time' which they had also written with their first two releases. The first release was called (Somebody) Help Me Out, which entered the chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
on 7 February 1981. It reached number 15 and was in the chart for ten weeks. The second was called "Mule (Chant No.2)", which entered the chart on 12 September 1981, and reached number 37, remaining in the chart for five weeks. It is worth noting, that most records sold by the band were not sold in chart return shops something which affected most artists in these genre. As a consequence these artists generally sold higher quantities of recordings than reflected by chart positions.
Beggar & Co was also the featured brass section on a number of chart records for other artists including the Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, "Chant No.1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", which itself peaked at number two in the chart. Other artists include Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
, Wham, George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, Gabrielle, Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
and many more.
The horn section - David Baptiste, Kenny Wellington and Nat Augustin - have made many appearances with artists from both the UK and USA including many from the jazzfunk and soul genres. Such artists include trumpeter Tom Browne, vocalist Jean Carne and The Jones Girls.
In 2009 the band released a live recording from The Jazz Cafe Brass, Strings N' Things. This was the first release in many years and was followed in May 2011 by a new studio recording The Legacy on MBJ Records.Current members of the band alongside the original members are Billy Osborne (drums), Otto Williams (bass), Camelle Hinds (bass), Harry Brown (trombone), Toby Baker (keyboards), Peter Hinds (keyboards), Robert 'Skins' Anderson (percussion),Noel McKoy (vocals), Orphy Robinson (vibraphone).
Both Kenny Wellington and David Baptiste have also released solo recordings. Kenny Wellington and Richard Bull also produced the album 'Inner Voices' which included the popular songs ' Blue Sky Day' and 'Bahia' Light of the World.