Formed 1968 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Mandrill comprised of:
Carlos D. Wilson (trombone / flute / guitar / percussion)
Charles Padro (drums)
Fudgy Key (bass)
Bundy Cenac (bass)
Louis Wilson (trumpet / congas / percussion / vocals)
Neftali Santiago (drums / percussion / vocals)
Wilfredo 'Wolf' Wilson (bass / congas / percussion / vocals)
Ric Wilson (sax / percussion / vocals)
Juaquin Jessup (lead guitar / percussion / vocals)
and Claude 'Coffee' Cave II (keyboards / percussion / vocals).
Mandrill were formed initially in the early '70's by the Wilson brothers who found other members by advertising in local New York music papers.
The seven members played over 20 instruments.
Shortly after settling on a line-up they signed with Polydor and cut 'Mandrill Is'.
Building a following for their earthy funk sound they recorded a further Polydor album 'Composite Truth' (1973) before moving to Los Angeles and switching labels to United Artists.
Here they released 'Solid' (1975).
In the U.K. their popularity began to take off in 1977 upon signing with Arista.
Their first album for the label, 'We Are One', featured 'Funky Monkey' and 'Can You Dig It', produced by Jeff Lane.
The following year they self-produced a second Arista album 'New Worlds' from which 'It's So Easy Lovin' You' and 'Mean Streets' became in-demand 'rare grooves' in the late 1980's.
Mandrill may have been the most musically ambitious of all the funk bands, something that hurt them commercially through their careers.
Albums:
Mandrill (Polydor 1970)
Mandrill Is (Polydor 1972)
Composite Truth (Polydor 1973)
Just Outside of Town (Polydor 1973)
Solid (United Artists 1975)
Beast from the East (United Artists 1976)
Mandrilland (Polydor 1976)
We Are One (Arista 1978)
New Worlds (Arista 1978)
Getting in the Mood (Arista 1980)
Sunshine (Voice Distributions 2003)
