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Average White Band (also AWB) is a Scottish funk and R&B band, who had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million selling song, "Pick Up the Pieces". The band name was initially proposed by Bonnie Bramlett. They have influenced others such as the Brand New Heavies, and been sampled by various musicians including the Beastie Boys, TLC, The Beatnuts, Too Short, Ice Cube, Eric B. & Rakim, Nas and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as Arrested Development - in turn making them the fifteenth most sampled act in history. As of 2010, and almost forty years after their formation, they continue to perform.
AWB was formed in early 1972 by Alan Gorrie, and Malcolm "Molly" Duncan, with Onnie McIntyre, Michael Rosen(trumpet), Roger Ball and Robbie McIntosh, joining them in the original line-up. Hamish Stuart quickly replaced Rosen. Duncan and Ball, affectionately known as the Dundee Horns, studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art (now part of the University of Dundee), and were previously members of Mogul Thrash. Gorrie and McIntyre had been members of Forever More. McIntyre and McIntosh were used as session musicians on Chuck Berry's recording of "My Ding-a-Ling".
The band's breakthrough was a support slot at Eric Clapton's comeback concert in 1973. MCA Records released their debut album, Show Your Hand, which sold poorly. Bruce McCaskill, who was Clapton's tour manager, liked the band's music and agreed to manage them. He borrowed money to take them to the US and to promote them. McCaskill had many contacts from his days with Clapton and managed to get Atlantic Records to sign them. The band relocated to Los Angeles, signed to Atlantic and released the follow-up, AWB, better known as "The White Album". This album was the first of many with renowned producer Arif Mardin, and reached #1 in the US Hot 100 chart.
McIntosh died of an accidental heroin overdose at a Los Angeles party on 23 September 1974. Gorrie also overdosed, but Cher kept him conscious until medical help arrived. The NME reported in January 1975 that AWB played a benefit show for McIntosh's widow at the Marquee Club in London. McIntosh was replaced by Steve Ferrone (previously of Bloodstone, and, like McIntosh, previously with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express).
In 1975, the single "Pick Up The Pieces" - taken from the #1 AWB album - reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song knocked Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good" out of #1 and sold over one million copies. It was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in March 1975. The band followed up with LPs Cut the Cake (1975) and Soul Searching (1976), both big sellers and yielding further Top 40 singles. Cut the Cake was dedicated by the surviving band members to McIntosh's memory. Their next LP, Benny & Us, was a collaboration with Ben E. King.
After several more albums, AWB's audience and sales dwindled. Their 1980 disco hit "Let's Go Round Again" (UK #12), was covered in the late 1990s by Louise. The group initially disbanded by 1982. Ferrone went on to work with Duran Duran whilst Hamish Stuart joined Paul McCartney's touring group. In 1985 Gorrie released a solo album, Sleepless Nights. Gorrie, McIntyre, and Ball reunited in 1989 to record Aftershock, but Ball left the band shortly after its release. and was replaced by Fred Vigdor (aka Freddy V). Eliot Lewis co-wrote with Gorrie on this album and joined the band, replacing lead singer Hamish Stuart.
Average White Band has continued recording (Soul Tattoo 1997, Face to Face, 1999) and touring since. When Eliot Lewis left the band in September 2002 to pursue other musical opportunities, he was replaced by Klyde Jones. Their line-up then included Alan Gorrie (bass, lead vocals), Klyde Jones (guitar, keyboard, lead vocals), Onnie McIntyre (guitar, vocals), Freddy V (sax, keyboard, vocals) and Brian Dunne (drums). Gorrie and McIntyre are the only remaining original members of the band.
Dunne was replaced by Rocky Bryant as drummer for the 2006 tour.
Band members
Onnie McIntyre (born Owen McIntyre, 25 September 1945, Lennoxtown, Scotland) — vocals / rhythm guitar.
Alan Gorrie (born 19 July 1946, Perth, Scotland) — guitar, bass guitar and vocals.
Malcolm "Molly" Duncan (born Malcolm Duncan, 24 August 1945, Montrose, Scotland) — tenor saxophone.
Roger Ball (born 4 June 1944, Broughty Ferry, Scotland) — keyboards / saxophonist - up to 1989.
Hamish Stuart (born 8 October 1949, Glasgow, Scotland) — guitar, bass guitar and vocals - up to 1982.
Robbie McIntosh (born 6 May 1950, Dundee, Scotland — died 23 September 1974) — (drums) - up to 1974.
Steve Ferrone (born 25 April 1950, Brighton, England) — drummer - 1974 to 1982.
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