Monk Higgins • Extra Soul Perception

Artist Biography

Monk Higgins is best known for the R&B hit instrumentals "Who Dun It" and "Gotta Be Funky." The prolific Higgins also wrote a slew of songs for others including Bobby Bland and one of the Chi-Lites' first singles, "Go Go Gorilla." A mainstay of the Chicago R&B/soul music scene, he was a producer/arranger/session player at Chess Records during the '60s.

Higgins also worked with Three Sounds, Blue Mitchell, Junior Wells, Gene Harris, Muddy Waters, Freddy Robinson, and Etta James, among others.

The saxman was born Milton Bland in Menifee, AR, on October 17, 1936. After moving to Chicago, Higgins started doing sides for George Lerner's One-Derful Records. Later, he began recording for St. Lawrence Records. One of his instrumentals for the label, the cool, funky "Who Dun It," hit number 30 R&B during the summer of 1966. The flip side was the melancholy past-midnight ballad "These Days Are Filled With You."

While at St. Lawrence, he hired his cousin Barbara Acklin as a secretary. Higgins recorded a single on her under the name Barbara Allen for his Special Agent label. Later, Higgins used Acklin as a background singer on his Chess Records sessions. Acklin later hit as a recording artist in the summer of 1968 with "Love Makes a Woman."

In 1969, Higgins moved to Los Angeles. He arranged and produced acts for United Artists Records, Imperial, and Minit. The multi-talented sax player recorded a few albums for United Artists. The LP Heavyweight (August 1972) included his biggest hit, "Gotta Be Funky" (number 22 R&B). Another UA LP, Monk Higgins (January 1973), includes "Little Mama." On Buddah Records, Higgins recorded "Dance to the Disco Sax of Monk Higgins" (December 1974). He's featured on the movie soundtrack and Buddah LP release from the 1975 Pam Grier/American International film Sheba, Baby. Higgins collaborated with former Stax Records executive Al Bell on hits for Bobby Bland during the '70s and '80s.

In 1983, blues artist Keb Mo joined his Higgins' Whodunit Band, contributing vocals and guitar as the group performed at Los Angeles-area clubs like Marla's Memory Lane. Keb Mo credits his time with Higgins as the most important element in developing his understanding of the blues. During the '90s, Higgins' music has been sampled by numerous rap artists and is included on various breakbeat compilation CDs.

MCA Records bought the Chess catalog in the mid-'80s from Joe and Sylvia Robinson of Sugarhill Records, reissuing many sides that feature Higgins' contributions. Monk Higgins died July 3, 1986, in Los Angeles, CA.

by Ed Hogan

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Biografía del artista

Monk Higgins es más conocido por los éxitos instrumentales de R&B "Who Dun It" y "Gotta Be Funky". El prolífico Higgins también escribió un montón de canciones para otros, incluyendo Bobby Bland y uno de los primeros sencillos de los Chi-Lites, "Go Go Gorilla". Un pilar de la escena musical R&B/soul de Chicago, fue productor/arreglador/sesionista de Chess Records durante los años 60.

Higgins también trabajó con Three Sounds, Blue Mitchell, Junior Wells, Gene Harris, Muddy Waters, Freddy Robinson y Etta James, entre otros.

El saxofonista nació Milton Bland en Menifee, AR, el 17 de octubre de 1936. Después de mudarse a Chicago, Higgins comenzó a hacer equipo para One-Derful Records de George Lerner. Más tarde, comenzó a grabar para St. Lawrence Records. Uno de sus instrumentos para el sello, el fresco y funky "Who Dun It", llegó al número 30 de R&B durante el verano de 1966. La otra cara de la moneda era la melancólica balada de medianoche "These Days Are Filled With You".

Mientras estaba en St. Lawrence, contrató a su prima Barbara Acklin como secretaria. Higgins grabó un single sobre ella bajo el nombre de Barbara Allen para su sello de Agente Especial. Más tarde, Higgins usó a Acklin como cantante de fondo en sus sesiones de Chess Records. Acklin más tarde triunfó como artista de grabación en el verano de 1968 con "Love Makes a Woman".

En 1969, Higgins se mudó a Los Ángeles. Arregló y produjo actuaciones para United Artists Records, Imperial y Minit. El multi-talentoso saxofonista grabó algunos álbumes para United Artists. El LP Heavyweight (agosto de 1972) incluía su mayor éxito, "Gotta Be Funky" (número 22 R&B). Otro LP de UA, Monk Higgins (enero de 1973), incluye "Little Mama". En Buddah Records, Higgins grabó "Dance to the Disco Sax of Monk Higgins" (diciembre de 1974). Aparece en la banda sonora de la película y en el lanzamiento del LP de Buddah de la película de 1975 de Pam Grier/American International Sheba, Baby. Higgins colaboró con el ex ejecutivo de Stax Records Al Bell en los éxitos de Bobby Bland durante los años 70 y 80.

En 1983, el artista de blues Keb Mo se unió a su banda Whodunit de Higgins, contribuyendo con voz y guitarra mientras el grupo se presentaba en clubes del área de Los Ángeles como Marla's Memory Lane. Keb Mo atribuye su tiempo con Higgins como el elemento más importante en el desarrollo de su comprensión del blues. Durante los años 90, la música de Higgins ha sido sampleada por numerosos artistas de rap y está incluida en varios CDs de compilación de breakbeat.

MCA Records compró el catálogo de ajedrez a mediados de los 80 a Joe y Sylvia Robinson de Sugarhill Records, reeditando muchos lados que presentan las contribuciones de Higgins. Monk Higgins murió el 3 de julio de 1986 en Los Ángeles, California.

por Ed Hogan

Tracklist
A1 Extra Soul Perception 2:35
A2 The Look Of Slim 3:00
A3 A Good Thing 2:30
A4 Watermelon Man 3:10m
A5 Straight Ahead 2:40
A6 Canadian Sunset 3:56
B1 Collision In Black 4:00
B2 Just Around The Corner 2:58
B3 Little Green Apples 2:25
B4 Poker Chips 3:08
B5 Sittin' Duck 3:00
B6 Doing It To Deff 2:50

Credits
Bass – Bob West, Ron Brown
Congas – Jerry Williams
Drums – John Guerin
Flute – Jim Horn
French Horn – David A. Duke*
Guitar – Al Vescovo*, Arthur Adams, Freddy Robinson*
Piano, Percussion – Miles Grayson
Strings [Under The Able Direction Of] – Sidney Sharp
Trumpet – Thomas Scott*
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – William Peterson*
Vibraphone, Percussion – Alan Estes
Producer, Percussion, Organ – Dee Ervin
Producer, Arranged By, Tenor Saxophone, Organ – Monk Higgins

Label: Solid State Records ‎– SS-18046
Released: 1968

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