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Kleeer Bassist Norman Durham Found Dead
November 05, 2011
Bassist Norman Durham of the popular 80s group Kleeer has died tragically from carbon monoxide poisoning at his Chestnut Ridge, New York home emanating from a generator powering his home during a power outage.
The story from the local paper can be found here.
Kleeer was one of most popular funk bands of the late 70s and early 80s and Durham played a key role in the group's sound. Formed in 1972 under the name The Jam Band, as a backup group to different disco bands and vocalists. In addition to Durham, the group included Woody Cunningham, vocalist/percussionist Paul Crutchfield and guitarist Richard Lee.
After a switch to the name Pipeline in 1975, the group also decided to switch to making hard rock instead of disco. Record labels competed to sign them but, when they finally ended up at Columbia Records, their single "Gypsy Rider" did not fare well commercially.
In 1976 they got the opportunity to become The Universal Robot Band along with underground disco producers Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael. This project was more successful than their previous work.
They made the single "Barely Breaking Even" alongside singer Leroy Burgess, and they also recorded an album. The group toured as The Universal Robot Band until 1978.
After 1978 the band decided to take control of the production of their albums, and also changed to the name Kleeer.
Between 1979 and 1985 the group released seven albums and had several hits in the Billboard Hot 100 and in R&B charts. The most mentionable are "Tonight's the Night", "Winners", "Intimate Connection", and "Get Tough." The sound was now more focused on 1980s style funk, and electronic instruments, like vocoders and synthesizers.
After the 1985's album Seeekret, the band disappeared for unknown reasons. Most of the musicians continued working with other projects. In the 1990s, however, the group re-emerged as Kleeer at some occasions.
The group's influence today is best found in many hip hop songs, where Kleeer songs have been sampled by artists ranging from 2Pac to Snoop Dogg to Lil Jon.
Even the present day dance community has rediscovered the act's music, as one of their recordings, "Keeep Your Body Workin", which reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart in 1979, was "reworked" into a updated recording by Tony Moran featuring Martha Wash, under the title "Keep Your Body Working." The Moran/Wash version reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in December 2007.
Group member Woody Cunningham died in January 2010, just months after releasing a solo album.
[Edited 11/5/11 13:05pm] | |
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, this is too much to bear
**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose! http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad | |
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RIP | |
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Wow, this is the second case I've read involving generators causing a death. RIP! Space for sale... | |
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That's a harsh way to go, sad to hear that he's gone. Here in Cali, a law was passed that requires all homes to have a Carbon monoxide detector in them to prevent such tragedies like this, it's especially needed when your in a situation like that where you're using a generator around your home. GOD bless to his family and friends. Jeux Sans Frontiers | |
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Very saddened to hear of Norman's passing. Another amazing funk bass player gone (Robert from Gap, & Drac & Mark from Slave, too, just recently). Feels like they are leaving us en masse sometimes.
Loved Kleeer. ("Nothin Said" spinnin right now here in he & Woody's honor
Thanks gentlemen
Funk Is It's Own Reward | |
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)Sad to hear this. I didn't even know Woody had passed until we had a Kleer thread hear sometime last year and i just happened to google Kleer and found out he had been dead. Don't laugh at my funk
This funk is a serious joint | |
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Damn, I hate hearing of Norman Durham's passing, or of the passing of Woody which I'm just now learning. Haven't kept track of these guys in many years, but they were one of my favorite bands when they were actively recording. The article announcing Norman's death taught me a lot about the history of Kleeer that I never knew. All the good times from the 80's just keeps getting further and further away, literally and figuratively.
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There were initially plans for a reunion, either a tour or a few gigs, though i'm not sure if they were planning to record again. A photo session was done in 2009 and then the sudden passing of Woody happened in early 2010, and now followed by the tragedy of Norman. Big hugs for his family, friends and the 2 remaining Kleeer brothers, Paul Crutchfield and Richard Lee.
It's unfortunate that so far no live footage of Kleeer has appeared somewhere, because i've heard that they would seriously throwdown at their shows with much attitude, and they were on the same bill for a series of shows during the 1980 Tour below.
[Edited 11/6/11 14:03pm] | |
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Damn, I was 8 in 1980, I would have been in heaven had that Rick James tour came my way with that line up. I'm still not familiar with all of Kleeer's work but am going to search them out. R I P Norm. Jeux Sans Frontiers | |
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I remember seeing Kleeer live when their 1st album dropped. They opened a show for Fatback Band,Brothers Johnson,Cameo & Rufus/Chaka Khan we're the headliners,great show.Sorry to hear about this..RIP. | |
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