Interviews
We Were Funky features some of the veteran musicians of the 70's Atlanta R&B/Funk scene. Take a look in the rear view mirror as local musicians and recording artists of the time, discuss the music business then and now.

Abdul Ra'oof/Mary Davis
If you know anything about the Atlanta music scene, you have to know about the SOS Band. The band was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. The original group members included Willie "Sonny" Killebrew (saxophone), Billy Ellis (flute), Jason ..."T.C." Bryant (keyboards), Bruno Speight (guitar), John Simpson (bass), James Earl Jones III (drums), and Mary Davis (lead vocals, keyboards). It was originally known as Santa Monica. The band later changed its name to The S.O.S. Band, an acronym for Sounds of Success. After listening to its demo and being impressed with their sound, Tabu Records signed the group to its first recording contract. Looking forward to talking to Abdul and Mary about the Atlanta 70's Funk/R&B music scene and more.

Bobby Lovelace
Atlanta native Bobby Lovelace, best known as drummer for the hit making machine of the 80's, Midnight Star will be appearing in We Were Funky.

Jimmy Brown and Regi Hargis
Appearing in We Were Funky, Jimmy Brown and Reggie Hargis of Brick. Brick was formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972 from members of two bands - one disco and the other jazz. They coined their own term for disco-jazz, "dazz". They released their first single "Music Matic" on Main Street Records in 1976, before signing to the independently distributed Bang Records. Their next single, "Dazz", (#3 Pop, #1 R&B) was released in 1976. The band continued to record for Bang records until 1982. Other hits followed: "That's What It's All About" (R&B #48) and "Dusic" (#18 Pop, #2 R&B) in 1977, and "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody" (#92 Pop, #7 R&B) in 1978. Their last Top Ten R&B hit was "Sweat (Til You Get Wet)" in 1981.

Sonny Emory
Sonny Emory is a native of Atlanta, Georgia (and a 1980 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School) who received his first drum set at the age of four. After graduating from Georgia State University with a Bachelor in Jazz Performance, Sonny began his transition to becoming a professional drummer playing with Joe Sample and the Crusaders. With over 20 years of live performance and studio work behind him, Sonny maintains a busy schedule in the music industry and is highly regarded in the business. Though probably best known for his groundbreaking drumming with Earth, Wind, and Fire; Sonny has performed with a virtual "who's who" in pop and jazz music including Stanley Clarke, David Sanborn, Bette Midler, Al Jarreau, Paula Abdul, Lee Ritenour, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Boz Scaggs, and even Jennifer Lopez.

Larry Tinsley
In June of 1971, Larry received an offer and accepted to work as an on-air announcer for WAOK in Atlanta. In 1981, he was elevated to the position of Program Director. During his tenure, WAOK achieved great ratings success. Today he serves as host of “Sunday Morning Praise,” heard each Sunday morning on WVEE-FM/WAOK-AM Atlanta and WBAV-FM in Charlotte, NC. And because Larry is regarded as one of America's top gospel announcers, he received the coveted Stellar Award as "Gospel Announcer Of The Year" in 1997.

Theresa Hightower
Theresa Hightower is regarded as one of the great jazz and blues vocalists of her generation. She is a veteran of concert halls, recordings, cabaret, and musical theater; both critics and audiences have marveled at her range, vocal phrasing..., and exciting live performances. She is one of only a handful of jazz artists, Cleo Laine among them, to win critical success in the fields of both jazz and musical theater. We're proud to say that Theresa Hightower will be appearing in We Were Funky.

Milkshake
It is no wonder that the late legendary radio host, “Tippy” Calloway, befittingly announced Milkshake as trumpeter extraordinaire. His music presentation mirrors the legacy of jazz greats. He has circled the world, gracing national and international stages with some of the greatest ‘who’s who’ among contemporary jazz giants - Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, mentor Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Cab Calloway, Freddie Hubbard, and many others.

Dwight Smith
Dwight was most notably known in the 70's as drummer for the popular group Maggabrain, a dynamic group that played a major role in the 70's Atlanta music scene. Dwight has traveled the world with such artists as Peabo Bryson, Glenn Frey, Engelbert Humperdinck and many more.