Reminiscin' - Interviews

A concept devised by Bill Curtis their sounds generated from the New Orleans Jazz scene. The driving force of rhythm and blues is hinged by Bill Curtis the ringmaster- who has released over 35 albums. Every song created during the Fatback era delved on an infectious sound highlighted in the singles, 'Backstrokin', 'Wicki Wacki' and 'I Found Lovin'.

Despite producing a breadth of albums, Fatback has managed to stick to their style and trademark party sound. Not only have Fatback conquered the soul, funk and disco genre, but they were the only band of their time to have recorded the first ever rap song!

Reminiscin' caught up with the Bill Curtis as he dives straight in to his scintillating career - uncovering his admiration for US producer Dr Dre and revealing the true inspiration behind Fatback's greatest hits.

When did you realise you had the right mix of band members to form Fatback?
Johnny and I met in New York; we were both living in New York at the time. We all worked as club dates and cabarets. When I decided to form a band, a friend of mine told me Johnny King was available and I went to talk to him. When I got together with him (Johnny King) he told me about his friend a bass player named Johnny Flippen-then Johnny joined the group. We then just started the rhythm section, we just played together.
We played as a dance band doing cabarets for about three or four years before we recorded. That is what made the band so great because we had been playing together for so long.

How did the band's name Fatback come about?
Fatback came from a name a friend of mine gave to me. Eric Gale, the famous guitarist gave me that name because I had played a style of drums that is similar to a breed of music and we just called it Fatback. It is just a New Orleans type of style of drumming.

What are the best aspects of being in the Fatback band?
One of the best aspects of being in the band is knowing that it is something I created.

The 60's and 70's was the epitome of raw funk and soul - how competitive was the industry back then? How did you keep the competition at bay?
I didn't really feel that it was very competitive because I was a leader, I wasn't a follower. In order to be competitive you have to follow someone, people followed me.

Fatback is responsible for over 35 album releases over the years - Does that come to you as a surprise?
I didn't even realise I had that many albums. We just record and when we kind of slowed down, and stopped recording for a little we realised we have accumulated a lot of music over the years. I didn't realise we had that much. At the time we were recording, we were recording and having fun.

Fatback have churned out massive hits, 'I Like Girls,' 'Let's Do It Again' and 'Yum Yum (Gimme Some)' - What were the inspiration behind such hits?
No inspiration, it just comes to the top of your head, but we did have one tune, the only tune that we did, that was inspired by someone. I worked with a guy called Clyde McPhatter and he had a tune called 'Money Honey' and my money tune 'Gotta Get My Hands on Some (Money) came from the idea of his tune.

The Fatback single with 'King Tim III' on the B side of 'You're My Candy Sweet' is questioned to be one of the first rap song - How does it feel to be credited the pioneers of hip hop?
I don't feel like I was a pioneer, but I just feel like I was the first one to record it. Grand master and them were still up at the Bronx but they hadn't recorded it yet. I was the only one that was brave enough to record it.

Being in the industry for so long - what has your experience been like in the music scene?
I found it great and I found it rewarding. I have been doing it all my life - I haven't done anything else. I think it is a great field to be in. It is hard work but it is a love passion.

Your music has been sampled by many other artists - how do feel about your work being used?
I feel great about it. I am waiting for them to get pass me. They haven't created nothing yet.

Have you got any favourite sample/s that you have heard on other records?
Oh Yeah, one of my favourite is Jay-Z, Ludacris and Kayne West. Dr Dre I like, I like him as a producer.

Which countries have you visited on tour - do you have any favourite places?
UK is like home to me. This is one of my favourite places. This is one of the first countries that I got my first hit record. 'I Found Lovin' was a hit twice over here. 'I Found Lovin' did not hit the US until 10 years later. It still wasn't a big record in the US, it was popular in the US, but it never hit 10 or 5 in the charts. There have been two or three versions of it - I am thinking of doing another one, a dance version.

What has the reception been like in the countries that you have toured?
It was great. Most of the countries are not use to funky music- it is a great experience for them. It is not like UK or Europe who is familiar and knows of Fatback. If you take it some place else, in a small area's they are not familiar with funky music. I mean they might know one or two Fatback songs, so when they see a band like us they really do get excited.

What are the future plans for Fatback?
Keep making records. Keep working and keep making records. I have new album 'The Legendary Fatback' ready now.