31:
99:
513:
534:. Thanks to the new attention brought by this compilation and a cult following that showed a growing interest in the obscure black rock of the early 1970s, the Hawkins brothers and Veasey reunited in 2005. (Hite had died in 2004). The reformed Black Merda has played at several festivals in Detroit and the surrounding region as well as New York's Central Park SummerStage concerts series and The Ottawa Blues Festival in 2006.
446:
in
Detroit and in the south, Veasey wanted to choose a name that would be a shocking reminder to the public of how bad the situation was. The spelling was later changed to Black Merda as an African American slang spelling (suggested by Anthony) of the word "murder" while retaining the original theme.
304:
Anthony
Hawkins and VC Lamont Veasey (also known as VC L Veasey, Veesee L Veasey, The Mighty V!) met in elementary school. Hawkins and Tyrone Hite met in high school in Detroit in the early 1960s, and all worked as session and backup musicians in the Detroit scene in the following years. Hawkins and
368:
by Edwin Starr. Starr took them on as his permanent backing unit and dubbed them the Soul Agents. A horn section consisting of Victor
Stubblefield and Gus Hawkins worked with the group periodically during this period. By 1967 the Soul Agents had appeared on the subsequent Starr singles "Twenty Five
503:
was released in 1972 by Chess subsidiary Janus
Records, with only Veasey and the Hawkins brothers pictured on the sleeve. The band's name was changed to Mer-Da on the front cover of the album in an attempt at greater accessibility. The second album also suffered from poor promotion, and the band
290:
active from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s and reuniting in 2005. The core band members are guitarist/vocalist
Anthony Hawkins, bassist/guitarist/vocalist VC L. Veasey, and guitarist/vocalist Charles Hawkins, plus original drummer/vocalist Tyrone Hite. Hite was a native of Detroit; the Hawkins
470:, son of the Chess founders) in 1968, which became a popular single in Detroit, though Black Merda did not receive credit on the record. A full album of songs by Fugi in collaboration with Black Merda was recorded but was not released until 2005, under the title
442:, the band settled on Black Murder (suggested by Veasey) as a comment on the rampant inner-city violence experienced by many African Americans during that period. Considering that many young black people were at that time being killed by the police and the
474:
from the TuffCity/Funky
Delicacies record label. Fugi also introduced the band to Marshall Chess, who was interested in working with rock and experimental acts. Marshall signed Black Merda on Fugi's recommendation alone.
409:
During this period, Charles
Hawkins (younger brother of Anthony) was added on second guitar to broaden the group’s sound. Another influence on the group's new musical interests was the general shift in the
313:, while Hite worked in sessions originally as a singer before taking up the drums. Many singers and musicians would show up at the Hawkins house where most of the rehearsals would take place.
392:. Veasey had first learned of Hendrix from a Seattle newspaper story in 1966 while stationed with the military in Washington State. Veasey introduced Hawkins and Hite to the album
98:
588:. The band was featured in the Spinner.com article "In Living Color: 20 Important Black Rockers Past and Present" in 2010. "Take A Little Time," the single from the 2009 album
430:
Now a quartet with the addition of
Charles Hawkins, the band continued working with Edwin Starr as the Soul Agents, with Starr approving of the change in sound to guitar-based
380:
Hawkins, Veasey, and Hite (while working with Starr) began to move away from the standard R&B sounds of the period and became heavily influenced by the hard rock sounds of
779:
438:. But in 1968 they decided to craft a new identity as a self-contained rock band. After considering the name Murder Incorporated after the notorious criminal organization
490:. The album suffered from a lack of promotion due to management changes at Chess Records. Disillusioned, the band moved to California to back Fugi once more, as well as
866:
902:
1112:
373:". Hawkins and Veasey (who had been writing songs together since they were 14 years old) also scored as songwriters in 1967 with "I Will Fear No Evil" by
482:
was released in 1970, and the band briefly became known as leaders among the burgeoning black rock and heavy funk scene that also included up-and-comers
497:
Black Merda began work on their second album without an official drummer, with session drummer Bob
Crowder being hired just before recording. The album
454:
in 1969, but began to view the R&B scene as passé compared to the experimental rock and funk music of
Hendrix and other young artists. Regardless,
940:
1097:
402:. Still known as the Soul Agents, in 1967 the trio cut what is believed to be the first cover of a Hendrix song on record, a rendition of "
1102:
1016:
841:"Consulte o significado / definição de merda no Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa, o dicionário online de português contemporâneo"
922:
Digs, A. "In celebration of Black History Month, I would like to recognize the first black rock group, Black Merda". Digs Daily Online.
1132:
1082:
787:
602:
in 2010. Their self-titled 1970 debut album was chosen as one of "Detroit's greatest hits that should have been" by the Detroit
1117:
1030:
962:
Heron, W. Kim. Gallert, Jim. Holdship, Bill. Hurtt, Michael. Smith, Brian. Turner, Khary kimani. Waller, Don. Wasacz, Wallter.
1127:
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963:
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74:
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45:
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637:
522:
462:. They collaborated with Fugi on his psychedelic funk song "Mary Don't Take Me on No Bad Trip", released by the
374:
329:
316:
Hawkins, Veasey, and Hite originally performed together as the Impacts, then as the Soul Agents backing up
458:
of the Temptations expressed interest in producing Black Merda, and introduced them to like-minded singer
399:
981:
925:
Edmond, Ben. "70s Psych-Funk Outfit Black Merda Will Take Detroit Stage For The First Time in 30 Years"
103:
Black Merda in 1969 (clockwise from left: Anthony Hawkins, VC L. Veasey, Charles Hawkins, Tyrone Hite)
552:
The long-delayed appreciation for Black Merda's influence was further reflected in 2005 when rapper
916:
715:
39:
494:. The band later returned to Detroit, but without Tyrone Hite, who decided to stay in California.
558:
370:
56:
337:
310:
991:
Niesel, Jeff. "A Funkadelic Relic: Black Merda's First Show Outside Detroit In 30 Years".
398:, and the three were inspired to refashion themselves as a rock power trio in the mold of
8:
735:
621:
479:
394:
570:
Further recognition was garnered when "Cynthy-Ruth" was featured in the HBO documentary
629:
504:
members later broke up and returned to more orthodox session work in soul and R&B.
499:
377:(produced by Don Davis), the B-side of his hit "My Love Is Strictly Reserved For You".
727:
361:
287:
117:
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909:
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459:
431:
291:
brothers and Veasey were all born in Lyon, Mississippi and came of age in Detroit.
231:
135:
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455:
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306:
556:
sampled their 1972 track "Lying" as the backing track for "Exodus Intro" on his
467:
325:
1067:
682:"Mary Don't Take Me On No Bad Trip" – Fuji featuring Black Merda (Cadet, 1969)
1091:
917:"An interview with VC L. Veasey From Black Merda: The first black rock band!"
594:
585:
463:
349:
341:
333:
321:
817:
745:
998:
Nishimoto, Dan. "Back In Black: A Twist Of Fate For Pioneers Black Merda".
578:
sampled "Cynthy-Ruth" for use in the track "Teriya King" on the 2009 album
487:
443:
439:
389:
381:
932:
Edmonds, Ben. "My Soul's Been Psychedelicised. Section about Black Merda"
867:"1960s black rock trailblazers Black Merda back with Fugi for a new album"
1057:
317:
955:
Fricke, David. "Review of Black Merda's The Folks from Mother's Mixer".
840:
516:
Black Merda in 2008 (L-R Charles Hawkins, Anthony Hawkins, VC L. Veasey)
512:
450:
Black Merda continued with Starr for a brief period, as well as backing
575:
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283:
145:
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403:
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19:
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Featuring Black Merda's song Cynthy-Ruth, as number 100 the Detroit
305:
Veasey worked frequently as session musicians for companies such as
1072:
18:"The Soul Agents" redirects here. For the 1960s British group, see
520:
In 2005, the Funky Delicacies label released the compilation disc
1032:
The Guide" Review of Black Merda's "The Folks From Mother's Mixer
553:
385:
364:. The Impacts were hired as the backing band for the 1965 single
345:
625:(Chess, 1970; reissued by Funky Delicacies, 1996, Lillith 2006)
411:
357:
1017:"In Living Color: 20 Important Black Rockers Past and Present"
694:"Red Moon" – Fugi featuring Black Merda (Grand Junction, 1971)
742:
541:
was released in 2006. The band has since released the albums
1050:
898:, Lost In The Grooves, August 1, 2006, accessed August 2006.
257:
212:
755:
435:
419:
263:
1022:
Tompkins, Dave. "Fugi Wonderland. Featuring Black Merda".
945:
The Dwarf.com.au. Accessed on the Internet, June 29, 2009.
526:, collecting all the songs from the two original albums,
243:
691:"Revelations" – Fuji featuring Black Merda (Cadet, 1970)
973:
Mills, Fred. "Black Merda: It's a Detroit Rock Thing".
647:– Fugi featuring Black Merda (Funky Delicacies, 2005)
272:
246:
679:" – The Soul Agents (precursor to Black Merda, 1968)
260:
240:
237:
254:
251:
234:
1005:Porter, James and Nishimoto, Dan. Liner notes to
942:Force Of Nature by The First All Black Rock Band!
905:Exclaim.ca. June 26, 2009. accessed July 1, 2009.
633:(Janus, 1972; reissued by Funky Delicacies, 1996)
1089:
299:
356:, and other soul/R&B acts affiliated with
566:named the 1970 track "Cynthy-Ruth" as one of
1113:Psychedelic rock music groups from Michigan
406:" that has become a rare collector's item.
584:that he produced for Japanese rappers the
697:"Take a Little Time" – (Vampi Soul, 2009)
75:Learn how and when to remove this message
511:
38:This article includes a list of general
1090:
964:"The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever!"
641:(Funky Delicacies, 2005; compilation)
309:, Golden World Studios, and producer
1098:African-American rock musical groups
1068:Black Merda "Cynthy-Ruth" LIve Video
959:magazine, p. 152, November 28, 2005.
568:The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever!
24:
1058:Black Merda's official Myspace site
864:
780:"English-Galician CLUVI Dictionary"
13:
1103:American blues rock musical groups
888:
714:The name of the band comes from a
688:"Prophet/Cynthy-Ruth" (Chess 1970)
685:"Cynthy-Ruth/Reality" (Chess 1970)
653:(Funky Delicacies, 2006; rarities)
606:(November 10, 2010, Music Issue).
44:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
1144:
1042:
810:"mèrda in Vocabolario - Treccani"
645:Mary Don't Take Me On No Bad Trip
537:A compilation of rarities titled
472:Mary Don't Take Me on No Bad Trip
425:
1083:I will Fear No Evil, Robert Ward
422:with socially conscious lyrics.
230:
97:
29:
1133:1968 establishments in Michigan
1002:, p. 67, August–September 2008.
952:HBO, August 10, 2009, 9 am EST.
948:Flor, Dana; Oppenheimer, Toby.
903:"Black Merda: Forces Of Nature"
838:
970:, p. 32, November 21–27, 2007.
950:The Nine Lives Of Marion Barry
858:
832:
802:
772:
708:
609:
572:The Nine Lives Of Marion Barry
1:
1118:Psychedelic soul music groups
1007:The Folks from Mother's Mixer
765:
651:The Psych-funk of Black Merda
638:The Folks from Mother's Mixer
539:The Psych-funk of Black Merda
523:The Folks from Mother's Mixer
466:subsidiary Cadet (started by
300:Early session and backup work
1128:American funk musical groups
1123:American soul musical groups
936:, p. 110, February 15, 2005.
7:
1108:Musical groups from Detroit
1078:VC L Veasey Music on Numubu
1073:VC L. Veasey's Myspace site
919:Digi Fanzine accessed 2006.
839:S.A, Priberam Informática.
574:that aired in August 2009.
562:album. In 2007 The Detroit
400:The Jimi Hendrix Experience
10:
1149:
1019:Spinner.com February 2010.
988:, p. 10, December 1, 2004.
929:, p. 1E, January 21, 2005.
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414:scene toward harder-edged
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908:Bush, John, Huey, Steve.
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716:pronunciation respelling
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369:Miles" and the seminal "
1012:Rule, Ja. Exodus, 2005.
993:The Cleveland Freetimes
977:, p. 68, November 2005.
910:"Black Merda Biography"
845:Dicionario.priberam.org
659:(Black Merda LLC, 2006)
460:Ellington "Fugi" Jordan
160:1968–1975, 2005–present
59:more precise citations.
592:, was featured on the
517:
109:Background information
1038:, p. 119, March 2006.
912:All Music Guide 2006.
722:; it is unrelated to
515:
366:"Agent Double-O Soul"
1063:Black Merda on Numbu
1000:Wax Poetics Magazine
1015:Spinner.com Staff.
995:, January 18, 2006.
871:Detroit Metro Times
492:Eric Burdon and War
395:Are You Experienced
1026:p. 22, April 2002.
927:Detroit Free Press
865:Jackman, Michael.
665:(Vampi Soul, 2009)
630:Long Burn the Fire
532:Long Burn the Fire
518:
500:Long Burn the Fire
982:"The Merda Files"
939:Familton, Chris.
915:Coulon, Sylvain.
388:, and especially
362:Brunswick Records
288:Detroit, Michigan
282:) is an American
223:
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118:Detroit, Michigan
85:
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1051:Official website
1036:Blender Magazine
1029:Weisbard, Eric.
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820:on March 5, 2016
816:. Archived from
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790:on March 4, 2016
786:. Archived from
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581:Serious Japanese
547:Force of Nature
432:psychedelic rock
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822:. Retrieved
818:the original
813:
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792:. Retrieved
788:the original
784:Sli.uvigo.es
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774:
754:), meaning "
750:
746:
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720:black murder
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338:Billy Butler
330:The Spinners
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195:Past members
177:VC L. Veasey
156:Years active
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65:January 2021
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986:Metro Times
968:Metro Times
850:January 30,
824:January 30,
814:Treccani.it
794:January 30,
657:Renaissance
622:Black Merda
610:Discography
604:Metro Times
564:Metro Times
545:(2006) and
543:Renaissance
528:Black Merda
480:debut album
375:Robert Ward
318:Edwin Starr
226:Black Merda
215:.blackmerda
199:Tyrone Hite
91:Black Merda
57:introducing
1092:Categories
766:References
736:Portuguese
600:Heavy Soul
576:Kanye West
484:Funkadelic
286:band from
146:blues rock
40:references
677:Foxy Lady
404:Foxy Lady
311:Don Davis
141:funk rock
131:Acid rock
20:Don Shinn
728:Galician
549:(2009).
1009:, 2004.
876:June 4,
732:Italian
724:Catalan
670:Singles
554:Ja Rule
508:Reunion
412:R&B
386:The Who
346:Joe Tex
295:History
208:Website
169:Members
53:improve
741:(from
615:Albums
559:Exodus
358:Motown
124:Genres
114:Origin
42:, but
747:merda
743:Latin
739:merda
702:Notes
382:Cream
878:2021
852:2021
826:2021
796:2021
756:shit
734:and
530:and
486:and
436:funk
434:and
420:funk
418:and
416:soul
360:and
284:rock
277:MURD
274:BLAK
217:.net
749:, -
371:War
258:ɜːr
213:www
1094::
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264:ə
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228:(
78:)
72:(
67:)
63:(
49:.
22:.
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