Chocolate Milk (band)
Encyclopedia
Chocolate Milk is a former American
funk
and soul band from New Orleans, Louisiana
, active in the 1970s and early 1980s.
by saxophonist Amadee Castenell, Jr shortly after the emergence of the bands Kool & the Gang
and Earth, Wind & Fire
. The eight-piece band relocated to New Orleans to become the studio band for songwriter
and producer Allen Toussaint
, following the tenure of The Meters
as Toussaint's band. Chocolate Milk backed Toussaint as a live band and on his album New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (1976), and also recorded with Paul McCartney
. The band then signed with RCA Records
.
Their first of eight albums released on RCA was Action Speaks Louder Than Words, an album that included a political message. The title cut, "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" (1975), has a break beat
that has been sampled
numerous times in hip hop music
, including "Move The Crowd" from the 1987 album Paid in Full
by Eric B. & Rakim
, and "Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check Your Ass Can't Cash" (1991) by Stetsasonic
.
The band became known for "Action Speaks Louder Than Words", and other hit songs: "Girl Callin'" (1978), "Say Won't Cha" (1979). and "I'm Your Radio" (1980), The band was also known for their versatility in musical styles, later adding elements of [disco], prevalent on their hit, "Blue Jeans" (1981). Chocolate Milk broke up in 1983 due to the waning popularity of disco, numerous personnel changes, and changes in producers after splitting with Toussaint in 1980.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and soul band from New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, active in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Biography
Chocolate Milk was formed in 1974 in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
by saxophonist Amadee Castenell, Jr shortly after the emergence of the bands Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and...
and Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
. The eight-piece band relocated to New Orleans to become the studio band for songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
, following the tenure of The Meters
The Meters
The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
as Toussaint's band. Chocolate Milk backed Toussaint as a live band and on his album New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (1976), and also recorded with Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
. The band then signed with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
.
Their first of eight albums released on RCA was Action Speaks Louder Than Words, an album that included a political message. The title cut, "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" (1975), has a break beat
Break (music)
In popular music, a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
that has been sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
numerous times in hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, including "Move The Crowd" from the 1987 album Paid in Full
Paid in Full (album)
Paid in Full is the debut album of American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released July 7, 1987, on the Island-subsidiary label 4th & B'way Records. The duo recorded the album at hip hop producer Marley Marl's home studio and Power Play Studios in New York City, following Rakim's response to Eric...
by Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre...
, and "Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check Your Ass Can't Cash" (1991) by Stetsasonic
Stetsasonic
Stetsasonic was an American hip hop group formed in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. It is remembered as one of the first hip hop crews to use a live band, and the group's positive, uplifting lyrics made it forerunners of alternative hip hop and jazz hip...
.
The band became known for "Action Speaks Louder Than Words", and other hit songs: "Girl Callin'" (1978), "Say Won't Cha" (1979). and "I'm Your Radio" (1980), The band was also known for their versatility in musical styles, later adding elements of [disco], prevalent on their hit, "Blue Jeans" (1981). Chocolate Milk broke up in 1983 due to the waning popularity of disco, numerous personnel changes, and changes in producers after splitting with Toussaint in 1980.
Albums
- Action Speaks Louder Than Words (1975), RCARCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
- Chocolate Milk (1976), RCA
- We're All in This Together (1977), RCA
- Comin (1977), RCA
- Milky Way (1979), RCA
- Hipnotism (1980), RCA
- Blue Jeans (1982), RCA
- Friction (1982), RCA
Compilations
- Ice Cold Funk: The Greatest Grooves of Chocolate Milk (1998), Razor & TieRazor & TieRazor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
- Best of Chocolate Milk (2002), Camden