The Pharaohs
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
The Pharaohs emerged as an American ensemble blending soul, jazz, and funk, originating in 1962 from a student group named The Jazzmen at Crane Junior College in Chicago, Illinois. The founding members included Louis Satterfield on trombone, Charles Handy playing trumpet, Don Myrick handling alto saxophone, Fred Humphrey at the piano, Ernest McCarthy on bass guitar, and Maurice White on drums. Notably, Satterfield, White, and Handy also worked as session musicians for Chess Records in Chicago.
Affro Arts Theater
Situated in Chicago's South Side, the Affro Arts Theater served as a venue for concerts alongside music and dance instruction, embodying the vibrant African-American cultural scene of the neighborhood. It was within this space that The Jazzmen combined forces with the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, giving rise to The Pharaohs.
Albums
In 1971, The Pharaohs issued their album The Awakening, followed by In the Basement in 1972. Songs such as "The Pharaohs Love Y'all" and "In the Basement" helped cement their status as a distinguished cult favorite. Additionally, their soundtracks were utilized in Afro-Sheen advertising campaigns during this era.
By the early part of the 1970s, Maurice White had achieved recognition performing with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and had produced a demo featuring Chicago-based musicians. Upon securing a contract with Warner Bros. Records, he established the group that evolved into Earth, Wind & Fire.
Marking their 30th anniversary in 1998, The Pharaohs performed at the Kansas City Blues-Jazz Festival; this concert was subsequently released on CD. The ensemble at that time comprised Charles L. Handy (trumpet, percussion, vocals), Big Willie Woods (trombone, percussion, vocals), Black Herman Waterford (saxophones, percussion), Billy Brimfield (trumpet), Yehuda Ben Israel (lead vocals, guitar), Louis Satterfield (bass guitar, vocals), "Kewu" Goggins (percussion), Ron Dennis (percussion), Calvin Mayfield (drums), and Master Henry Gibson (percussion, vocals).
External links
- [The Pharaohs on allmusic.com]