Go-Go History

It all started in Washington D.C. more than 25 years ago. The godfather, Chuck Brown started it all unknowingly, playing Jazz music. His band was formed in 1966,67',68'. Af ter about a year of performing he got an idea, why should they stop playing after every song? So he had the percussion section keep the beat after a groove was finished, While the percussion continued to play he would rap to the crowd, say whats up to people that he knew, take requests and put people on "display".In 1973(?), he heard "Mr.Magic" by Grover Washington. He immediately recognized the perfect dance beat, and made that his transition beat. Thus the "pocket" was born. Chuck Brown, has taken this sound to Tokyo,Japan, California, Germany, London,Eng., and even Holland !!! Trouble Funk, (another classic innovator/before disbanding) had electified the nightclub circuits of New York, California and London!

In the early seventies,younger bands were already starting to pop up all over the city. Trouble Funk patterned themselves after Parliament/Funkadelic; Experience Unlimited played top 40 and rock. Chuck took another young band under his wing known as the Young Dynamos. When Chuck put them on, they changed their name to "Rare Essence" With the guidance of Chuck Brown, Essence quickly began to make a name for themselves as the hottest young band. Although not quite as polished as E.U. and Trouble Funk, they captured the crowd with a pure Go~Go sound. TF and EU soon began to incorporate Go~Go beats in their repertoire.

By 1976 it was on! R.E.,T.F.,AND E.U., began gigging throughout the city having classic battles amongst each other. By 1979, The Peace Makers and Mass Extinction joined the circuit as two more popular groups. Lawrence (Maniac) sang backup for Essence from time to time starting in 1981 (the 1981 Potomac High School is one example. Right on for the P-girls yall"). In 1982, he took over for LiL' Benny who missed several shows from illness. In 1983 he became a full member of the group. In 1986, Little Benny left Essence leaving Lawrence by himself for a minute. Maniac later left too..money problems. Benny who also rocked the lead vocals for the Ayre Rayde Band for a while too, in 1986.

Big John from Ayre Rayde also cranked the lead vocals for Rare Essence for some time after Little Benny's departure.Did you know that the Mighty Peacemakers played at the Washington Monument in 1981 ? Heap Big Fun ! Everyone knows that would be unimaginable today ! In 1983, Ayre Rayde took the Go~Go world by storm as well as bands like Reality, Petworth, Shady Groove, Prophecy,Hot,Cold Sweat and a host of others! In fact it became a Friday, Saturday night ritual to go and see the Go~Go bands perform for guess how much?....1.00!

There would at times be 4-5-6 bands playing on one card with Rare Essence headlining the marquis. Just like the Greatful Dead following everyone was allowed and encouraged to bring a tape recorder to the show to record the bands !! These amateur recordings, would promote the bands and sell more tickets ! In 1985 another band finally started to get their due....Junkyard formed in (1982)...with their local hits "Sardines" and the "Word". Coming from very humble beginnings in S.E. Berry Farms, they were known for their hypnotic percussion and world famous Cavalier commercial.

In 1986, a new band appeared on the scene...the Junkyard Band with there local hits Sardines and The Word. Coming from very humble beginnings in S.E. Berry Farms, they were known for their hypnotic percussion and world famous Cavalier commercial. Around this time there were many bands breaking up...Class, Prophecy, AM/FM...etc...but GO`GO was finally leaving home with the successes of 'Don't Touch That Stereo" by Iceburg Slim, "Drop The Bomb"-Trouble Funk. Trouble Funk also collaborated with Kurtis Blow on the Kingdom Blow album. Then Experience Unlimited and Spike Lee collaborated on on the soundtrack for School Daze. The national hit, "Doin' Da Butt" finally propelled GO~GO to thetop in the national spotlight. Unfortunately, their success also led to their breakup, which is the case for most successful bands in sany music. The early 90's also meant a lot to GO~GO with the growth of cable television. Bolstered by their popularity on Rap City and on B.E.T. and a musical collaboration with Salt & Pepper on their first LP, Rare Essence reached umber 5 on the chart in Jet Magazine a national publication !

Everyone compared the successes of R.E.'s "Work The Walls" with E.U's, " Doin' Da Butt" (a double platinum hit) of a few years before. It also fueled the rivalry between the two bands, with Donnell Floyd from Rare Essence saying in the song lyrics "Working The Walls is our game our claim to fame "Doin' DA Butt, Hey was just a phaze!! The mid 80's, and early 90's also saw a resurgence of the godfather himself Chuck Brown! Producing hits like "Sure Ya Right", We Need Money", and his infamous boat ride go~go's and Hustler Balls. Chuck helped pave the way for todays sound....Northeast Groovers (N.E.), Rare Essence (R.E.) first Go~Go band to ever play in Atlanta, Georgia at Morehouse College, Pleasure B.K.A. Precise the all girl band...and from Baltimore, Maryland which is exactly what we need to go national, like hip hop did....a grass roots explosion!, Backyard (B.Y.B.) was the first go`go band to ever play at the Freaknick in 97' and gave us a memorable encore in 98'! Despite our many successes there was a major and significant trajedy that befell the Go~Go industry in 1998. The breakup of the Junkyard band. This is an historical event, because it destroys the old and gives birth to something new. Out of one band, we now may enjoy two. The JMOBB and J.Y. Band! In 1998 and 1999 rumor has it that this may also happen in two other bands, that for now shall go nameless.

In closing, let us not forget about the Junkyard Band..in a thirteen year span tey've toured New York, Boston, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Petersburg, Va., and a host of other cities!! These are the major players in go~go today. GO~GO music is surprisingly, the only African American music which highlights and focuses on traditional African drums in every musical arrangement! So it's obviously..an unforgettable cultural experience. Oh yea, I would like to give an extra, extra special thanks to my man "Skip Howard" for his collaborative (hopefully continual) effort in chronicalling the history of Go~Go on this website! More history, for every band is coming in 2004! Please check each band's individual web pages.

Go-go's not really a popular genre. It's more of a cult dance music. Kinda like Ska. You may disagree, but think about how much impact Go-go had in popular music. Not much. I mean, the only Go-go bands I'm familiar with are EU and Trouble Funk.

Damn. I was hoping this was about The Go-Go's.

I love me some Jane Wiedlin!

Go-go's not really a popular genre. It's more of a cult dance music. Kinda like Ska. You may disagree, but think about how much impact Go-go had in popular music. Not much. I mean, the only Go-go bands I'm familiar with are EU and Trouble Funk.