Uncle Jamm's Army
| Company type | Collective |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Event promotion |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Rodger Clayton, Gid Martin, Dr. Funkenstein, Bleebs |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Greater Los Angeles |
| Products | Electro-funk music releases, live events and parties |
Uncle Jamm's Army was a Los Angeles-based American collective known for organizing parties and performances. While their public events were promoted under the name Uncle Jam's Army (omitting the second "m"), their electro-funk music releases consistently used the spelling Uncle Jamm's Army.
History
In the 1970s, Rodger Clayton began hosting amplified gatherings in backyards and rented halls around Harbor City and Carson, California. Clayton and his associates engineered custom sound systems that drew significant teenage crowds. Prior to joining forces with Clayton in 1978, Gid, Tony, and Greg Martin managed teen dance events at Alpine Village in Torrance through Martin Brothers Productions. Together, they formed Unique Dreams Entertainment, eventually rebranding their live event promotions as Uncle Jam's Army.
The collective’s name was inspired by Parliament-Funkadelic’s 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You, symbolizing their concept as a "party army." Founding members included Clayton, Gid Martin, Dr. Funkenstein, and Bleebs. Egyptian Lover initially appeared as a dancer before transitioning into a primary DJ role. During the early 1980s, DJs such as DJ Bobcat became part of the group.
Arabian Prince (Kim Renard Nazel) joined in the early 1980s, contributing electro-style DJ performances prior to co-founding N.W.A..
By the mid-1980s, Uncle Jam's Army was staging large-scale events at prominent venues including the Hollywood Palladium, Pasadena Convention Center, and Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Their musical output, released under Uncle Jamm's Army on Freak Beat Records, featured the 1983 electro single "Dial-A-Freak," followed by tracks like "Naughty Boy" and "The Roach Is on the Wall."
Several members—such as Ice-T, DJ Pooh, DJ Bobcat, Egyptian Lover, and Arabian Prince—went on to establish notable solo careers. Radio personality Greg Mack from KDAY played a key role in popularizing their electro-funk style throughout greater Los Angeles.
With the emergence of N.W.A. and Ruthless Records transforming West Coast hip hop by the late 1980s, Uncle Jam's Army eventually disbanded.
Impact and legacy
Uncle Jam's Army served as a crucial link between Los Angeles’ funk party scene and the professional West Coast hip hop movement. Their pioneering use of drum machines and electronic instruments influenced major G-funk producers like Dr. Dre. The track "Dial-A-Freak" is widely recognized as a seminal release in Los Angeles’ electro music history.
Singles
- "Dial-A-Freak" (1983, Freak Beat Records, UJA-1001)
- A1. "Dial-A-Freak" – 6:35
- A2. "Yes, Yes, Yes (Vocal)" – 7:25
- B1. "Yes, Yes, Yes (Instrumental)" – 8:50
- "Naughty Boy" (1985, Freak Beat Records, UJA-1002)
- A1. "Naughty Boy"
- A2. "What's Your Sign (Of the Zodiac Baby Doll)"
- B1. "What's Your Sign (Instrumental)"
- "The Roach Is on the Wall" (credited to Uncle Jamm's Army & The California Cat Crew) (1985, Freak Beat Records, UJA-1003)
- A1. "The Roach Is on the Wall"
- A2. "Roach Motel (Fast Version)"
- B1. "The Roach Is on the Wall (Slow Instrumental Rap Yourself)"
Deaths
- Rodger Clayton – passed away from a heart attack on October 10, 2010.
- David "Dr. Funkenstein" Storm – confirmed deceased in 2023 with public tributes honoring his memory.