165:. By 1965, however, the O'Jays and their manager had moved elsewhere, and LaRue's band fell apart. LaRue returned to Buffalo, but Christian and two other members of the band, guitarist Alvester "Pig" Jacobs and saxophonist J.V. Hunt, had no means of traveling and stayed in Phoenix. They joined forces with an existing Phoenix group, The Three Blazers, who included
247:
Dyke returned to
Buffalo, and put together a new touring band, including Willie Earl (drums - previously a member of Carl LaRue's band), Wardell "Baby Wayne" Peterson (second drummer), Otis Tolliver (bass), Ray Byrd (keyboards), and Maurice "Little Mo" Jones (trumpet). However, the touring band
189:
In summer 1966, the band were heard by Art
Barrett, who became their manager and had them record the song at the Audio Recorders Studio in Phoenix. Barrett released the record on his own Artco label, with Christian credited as its writer although other band members later claimed that they had
227:
as "revolutionary", and Dyke developed a dance routine to go with it. The band added bass player Alvin Battle, freeing Dyke to concentrate on vocals, and toured widely on the back of its success. However, in the summer of 1967, the stresses of playing a series of engagements at the
280:. The resulting records, including "We Got More Soul" (no. 7 R&B, no. 35 pop) and "Let A Woman Be A Woman, Let A Man Be A Man" (no. 4 R&B, no. 36 pop), were among his biggest hits. Most of the singles resulted from lengthy
169:
Bernard
Williams, and, as "Dyke and the Blazers", added local musicians Rich Cason (organ) and Rodney Brown (drums). Playing in local clubs, the group picked up on the rhythms, bass and organ innovations of
320:
quoted
Phoenix detective Eloy Ysasi as saying, "Dyke was a drug addict and had so many tracks on his arms you couldn't believe it." The shooting, by Clarence Daniels, was considered self-defense.
1013:
257:
118:
led by
Arlester Christian. The band was formed in 1965, and recorded up until Christian's death in 1971. Among their most successful records were the original version of "
248:
gradually disintegrated in 1968 and 1969. After 1968, Christian made Dyke and the
Blazers records with a variety of Los Angeles studio musicians, later known as the
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624:
1131:
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633:
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145:. In 1960, he started playing bass in a Buffalo band, Carl LaRue and his Crew, who played local bars and clubs and released a
249:
998:
761:
357:
352:
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records. Dyke and the
Blazers continued to have less sizeable hits into 1970, with a style described by critic
421:
186:", the lyrics reflecting singer Dyke's memories of Broadway in Buffalo as well as Broadway Road in Phoenix.
488:
332:
195:
123:
244:
of "Funky
Broadway". Pickett's recording reached no. 1 on the R&B chart and no. 8 on the pop chart.
316:, although a coroner's report showed no alcohol or narcotics in his system. However, on April 22, 1971
273:
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204:
822:
676:
517:
373:
161:, to take his band to that city, to provide the backing for the vocal group that he managed there,
142:
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as "gut-bucket funk... with scratchy guitar riffs, greasy organ, hoarse vocals, and jazzy horns".
137:(June 13, 1943 – March 13, 1971), nicknamed "Dyke", was born (according to most sources) in
1079:
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377:, they recorded "The Mummy", voicing the animated skeletal rock band Little Tibia and the Fibias.
289:
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early in 1967, reaching no. 17 in a 24-week stay on the chart, and also reached no. 65 on the
166:
149:, "Please Don't Drive Me Away", on the KKC label in March 1962. In 1964, LaRue was invited by
138:
32:
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Dyke and the
Blazers were inducted to the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
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Compilations of Dyke and The
Blazers recordings have been issued on CD by
1078:(1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p.
1046:
The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches
872:
721:
681:
366:
312:. According to reports at the time, the killing may have been related to
265:
190:
contributed to the song. It became popular locally, and was reissued by
309:
212:
300:
Christian was preparing for a tour of England and for recording with
233:
220:
216:
179:
112:
43:
697:"Arlester_Christian 2012 Inductee Buffalo Music Hall of Fame"
574:
The Funky Broadway - The Very Best Of Dyke & The Blazers
974:"Dyke And The Blazers, review by Alec Palao at Ace Records"
355:". "Let a Woman Be a Woman" was also featured in the film
722:"Carl LaRue And His Crew - Monkey Hips And Oyster Stew"
219:" in its title, and for that reason was banned by some
641:
Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One
74:
70:
59:
49:
39:
28:
21:
1071:
347:for their song "Sally", and English indie rockers
223:stations as offensive. Its music was described by
895:
893:
365:refers to "Let a Woman Be a Woman" in his song "
343:for his song "If my Homie Calls", and the band
873:"Dyke And The Blazers - Funky Broadway-Part I"
625:The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll
580:We Got More Soul (The Ultimate Broadway Funk)
8:
1001:. Johnson Publishing Company. 22 April 1971.
236:caused the band to split up, shortly before
215:. The record was the first to use the word "
939:The Great Drummers of R&B Funk and Soul
586:Dyke's Greatest Hits - The Complete Singles
284:that were edited down to fit the format of
670:
668:
666:
664:
598:Rarities Volume 2 - The Funky Combinations
18:
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604:Down On Funky Broadway: Phoenix 1966-1967
817:
815:
756:
754:
752:
750:
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744:
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592:Rarities Volume 1 - Phoenix To Hollywood
401:
660:
1108:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995
968:
966:
942:. Mel Bay Publications, Incorporated.
923:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995
905:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995
568:Dyke's Greatest Hits: We Got More Soul
1137:Musical groups from Buffalo, New York
7:
1142:Musical groups from Phoenix, Arizona
766:, The Buffalo News, August 11, 1991"
610:I Got A Message: Hollywood 1968-1970
1014:"WHAT's AHEAD FOR BLACKS IN MUSIC?"
1132:Musical groups established in 1965
308:street, on March 13, 1971, at the
202:. The record steadily climbed the
14:
1012:Higgins, Chester (22 Apr 1971).
252:. That outfit included drummer
1110:. Record Research. p. 105.
925:. Record Research. p. 349.
907:. Record Research. p. 126.
823:"AMEHOF - DYKE AND THE BLAZERS"
588:(online only, 2013 compilation)
276:, and bassists James Smith and
304:when he was fatally shot on a
272:, who later became members of
250:Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
240:had a bigger hit with his own
1:
848:"Label shot of Artco release"
96:Wardell "Baby Wayne" Peterson
1127:American funk musical groups
462:"Funky Walk Part 1 (East)"
296:Death of Arlester Christian
1163:
936:Payne, Jim (1 July 2006).
530:
515:
504:
486:
475:
461:
447:
432:
335:" has been sampled by the
256:, who also performed with
1074:Top Pop Singles 1955-2002
1043:Simmonds, Jeremy (2012).
959:– via Google Books.
501:
472:
458:
429:
410:
407:
404:
182:-based song that became "
102:Maurice "Little Mo" Jones
80:Arlester "Dyke" Christian
1049:. Chicago Review Press.
677:"Dyke & the Blazers"
639:Vincent, Rickey (1996).
622:Segalstad, Eric (2008).
420:
415:
1070:Whitburn, Joel (2003).
435:Funky Broadway - Part 1
1147:Original Sound artists
643:. St. Martin's Press.
489:Let a Woman Be a Woman
333:Let a Woman Be a Woman
274:Earth, Wind & Fire
124:Let a Woman Be a Woman
827:Azmusichalloffame.org
799:Soulfulkindamusic.net
628:. Samadhi Creations.
358:Friends with Benefits
174:'s band, and through
82:Alvester "Pig" Jacobs
675:Richie Unterberger.
556:Dykes' Greatest Hits
353:How You Like Me Now?
109:Dyke and the Blazers
23:Dyke and the Blazers
518:You Are My Sunshine
476:"We Got More Soul"
143:Burgard High School
764:Buffalo's Soul Men
612:(2021 compilation)
606:(2021 compilation)
600:(2013 compilation)
594:(2013 compilation)
582:(2007 compilation)
576:(1999 compilation)
570:(1992 compilation)
564:(1983 compilation)
558:(1969 compilation)
374:Mad Monster Party?
290:Richie Unterberger
135:Arlester Christian
16:American funk band
772:on April 25, 2012
634:978-0-615-18964-2
541:
540:
531:"Runaway People"
167:tenor saxophonist
139:Buffalo, New York
106:
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33:Buffalo, New York
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976:. Archived from
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768:. Archived from
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699:. Archived from
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411:Chart Positions
402:
151:Phoenix, Arizona
111:was an American
86:Bernard Williams
77:
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762:"Elmer Ploetz,
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617:Further reading
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423:
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361:. The musician
351:for their own "
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270:Roland Bautista
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1104:Whitburn, Joel
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919:Whitburn, Joel
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550:Funky Broadway
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258:Charles Wright
238:Wilson Pickett
230:Apollo Theater
196:Original Sound
184:Funky Broadway
141:. He attended
131:
128:
122:" (1966) and "
120:Funky Broadway
104:
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78:
72:
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65:Original Sound
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1089:0-89820-155-1
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1056:9781613744789
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980:on 2011-10-15
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949:9780786673032
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703:on 2013-12-16
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649:0-312-13499-1
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398:Chart singles
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279:
278:Melvin Dunlap
275:
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264:, guitarists
263:
259:
255:
251:
245:
243:
242:cover version
239:
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218:
214:
210:
209:R&B chart
207:
206:
201:
197:
193:
187:
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177:
176:improvisation
173:
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98:Otis Tolliver
88:Richard Cason
79:
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34:
31:
27:
20:
1107:
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1038:
1021:
1018:Jet Magazine
1017:
1007:
993:
982:. Retrieved
978:the original
953:. Retrieved
938:
931:
922:
913:
904:
880:. Retrieved
876:
867:
855:. Retrieved
851:
842:
830:. Retrieved
826:
802:. Retrieved
798:
774:. Retrieved
770:the original
763:
729:. Retrieved
725:
716:
705:. Retrieved
701:the original
691:
680:
640:
623:
609:
603:
597:
591:
585:
579:
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567:
561:
555:
549:
383:Kent Records
380:
376:
371:
356:
341:Tupac Shakur
330:
327:
318:Jet Magazine
317:
314:drug dealing
299:
282:jam sessions
262:Bill Withers
254:James Gadson
246:
203:
188:
178:developed a
134:
133:
108:
107:
92:Alvin Battle
90:Rodney Brown
76:Past members
51:Years active
852:Popsike.com
448:"So Sharp"
393:Discography
387:Ace Records
345:Stetsasonic
302:Barry White
200:Los Angeles
172:James Brown
159:Eddie O'Jay
155:disc jockey
94:Willie Earl
1121:Categories
984:2011-10-04
776:October 4,
707:2013-12-16
656:References
339:performer
331:The song "
225:Rick James
163:The O'Jays
126:" (1969).
1030:0021-5996
1024:(4): 62.
877:45cat.com
726:45cat.com
349:The Heavy
310:age of 27
213:pop chart
205:Billboard
198:label in
192:Art Laboe
84:J.V. Hunt
55:1965–1971
1106:(1996).
921:(1996).
903:(1996).
682:AllMusic
562:So Sharp
367:Gett Off
266:Al McKay
100:Ray Byrd
955:July 1,
857:July 1,
832:July 1,
804:July 1,
424:R&B
408:Single
337:hip-hop
306:Phoenix
153:-based
63:Artco,
1086:
1053:
1028:
946:
882:1 July
795:"dyke"
731:1 July
647:
632:
552:(1967)
544:Albums
505:"Uhh"
417:US Pop
363:Prince
324:Legacy
286:45 rpm
234:Harlem
147:single
130:Career
60:Labels
40:Genres
35:, U.S.
29:Origin
999:"Jet"
502:1970
473:1969
459:1968
430:1967
405:Year
221:radio
217:funky
1084:ISBN
1051:ISBN
1026:ISSN
957:2021
944:ISBN
884:2021
859:2021
834:2021
806:2021
778:2011
733:2021
645:ISBN
630:ISBN
534:119
523:121
508:118
451:130
385:and
372:For
268:and
260:and
180:riff
116:band
113:funk
44:Funk
1080:178
537:32
526:30
511:20
494:36
479:35
468:22
465:67
454:41
443:17
440:65
369:".
232:in
194:'s
1123::
1082:.
1022:40
1020:.
1016:.
965:^
892:^
875:.
850:.
825:.
814:^
797:.
786:^
741:^
724:.
679:.
663:^
520:"
497:4
491:"
482:7
437:"
422:US
389:.
157:,
1092:.
1059:.
1032:.
987:.
886:.
861:.
836:.
808:.
780:.
735:.
710:.
685:.
651:.
636:.
516:"
487:"
433:"
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