The American Breed
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1961 in Cicero, Illinois, United States |
| Founder | Gary Loizzo |
| Defunct | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
The American Breed was a rock ensemble from Chicago active during the 1960s, initially formed under the name Gary & The Knight Lites before adopting their well-known moniker in 1967. They achieved chart success with multiple singles between 1967 and 1968, most famously with "Bend Me, Shape Me". The group disbanded in 1970, with some members later becoming part of Rufus.
History
Established in 1961 by Gary Loizzo in Cicero, Illinois, Gary & The Knight Lites were influenced by rhythm & blues and acts like The Everly Brothers. Their early tracks included "I'm Glad She's Mine" and "Will You Go Steady". The founding lineup consisted of Loizzo (vocals/guitar), Chuck Colbert (bass/vocals), Al Ciner (guitar/vocals), and Jim Michalak (drums). In 1965, Lee Graziano replaced Michalak on drums, solidifying what would become the classic formation. The band recorded through 1966 before changing their name to The American Breed.
A pivotal moment came on January 20, 1967, when Kenny Myers, a stranded executive from Mercury Records, discovered their recordings and signed them to Acta Records, a subsidiary of Dot Records. At Myers’ suggestion, they adopted the name "The American Breed". Their first single under this name was "I Don't Think You Know Me", penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.
From 1967 to 1968, The American Breed placed five singles on the charts. "Step Out of Your Mind" reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1967, allowing the band to commit fully to their music career. Their most successful release, "Bend Me, Shape Me", climbed to number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 and sold over one million copies, earning a gold certification. Producer Bill Traut’s horn arrangements played a key role in its appeal. The song also found international success, hitting number 24 in the UK and number 9 in Germany. Other notable charting tracks included "Green Light".
The group expanded into commercial ventures by producing jingles for brands such as Coca-Cola, the United States Navy, and Bell Telephone Company. Their "Fly the American Way" campaign for American Airlines gained traction in major television markets. Additionally, their music featured in films like No Way to Treat a Lady (1968) and The Brain (1969).
In 1968, following three performances on American Bandstand, keyboardist Kevin Murphy joined as the band briefly rebranded first as "THE American BREED" and then simply as "The Breed". Later singles such as "Keep the Faith" did not achieve commercial success. In 1969, with the addition of vocalist Paulette McWilliams, they shifted toward an R&B/funk sound; however, "Hunky Funky" only reached number 107. By 1970, after Loizzo’s last single "Can't Make It Without You" failed to chart, the group effectively disbanded.
Afterward, Loizzo established Pumpkin Studios specializing in production and commercial work, earning a Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Styx. Meanwhile, Colbert, Graziano, McWilliams, and Murphy formed Smoke and later Äsk Rufus (which evolved into Rufus). McWilliams was eventually replaced by Chaka Khan, leading to Rufus’s breakthrough with their Top 10 hit "Tell Me Something Good" in 1974.
The original quartet reunited briefly in 1986 to record Once Again, which featured a new rendition of "Bend Me, Shape Me". A greatest hits collection titled Bend Me, Shape Me: The Best of the American Breed was released in 1994. Their signature song continues to receive airplay on oldies radio formats.
Following their initial reunion, The American Breed have sporadically performed mainly around Chicago. Lead vocalist Gary Loizzo passed away at age 70 on January 16, 2016, due to pancreatic cancer.
Personnel
- Gary Loizzo – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (August 16, 1945 – January 16, 2016)
- Al Ciner – guitar, backing vocals (born May 14, 1947, Chicago)
- Charles "Chuck" Colbert – bass guitar, vocals (born August 30, 1939, Chicago)
- Jim Michalak – drums (associated with "Gary & The Knight Lites") (October 29, 1941 – December 21, 2017)
- Lee Graziano – drums, trumpet, vocals (from "The American Breed") (born November 9, 1943, Chicago)
- Kevin Murphy – keyboards
Albums
| Year | Album | Billboard 200 | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The American Breed | – | Acta Records |
| 1968 | Bend Me, Shape Me | 99 | |
| Pumpkin, Powder, Scarlet & Green | – | ||
| Lonely Side of the City | – | ||
| 1986 | Once Again | – | ABM Records |
Singles
| Year | Title | US | Canada | UK | Record Label | B-side | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | "I Don't Think You Know Me" | — | — | — | Acta Records | "Give Two Young Lovers a Chance" | The American Breed |
| "Step Out of Your Mind" | 24 | 26 | — | "Short Skirts" | |||
| "Don't Forget About Me" | 107 | — | — | "Same Old Thing" | |||
| "Bend Me, Shape Me" | 5 | 7 | 24 | "Mindrocker" | Bend Me, Shape Me | ||
| 1968 | "Green Light" | 39 | 29 | — | "Don't It Make You Cry" | ||
| "Ready, Willing and Able" | 84 | 66 | — | "Take Me if You Want Me" | Pumpkin, Powder, Scarlet & Green | ||
| "Anyway That You Want Me" | 88 | 84 | — | "Master of My Fate" | |||
| 1969 | "Hunky Funky" | 107 | — | — | "Enter Her Majesty" | ||
| "Walls" | — | — | — | "Room at the Top" |
External links
- Official website of The American Breed
- Fan site dedicated to The American Breed
- History of Acta Records including The American Breed [Unavailable as of January 25, 2018]