Pockets (band)

Pockets
Also known as The Pockets
Origin Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Genres Soul, Funk
Years active 1970s to 1980s, 2016 to present
Labels Columbia, ARC Records
Website https://www.pocketsband.net
Past members Kevin Barnes
Gary Grainger
Glenn Grainger
George Gray
Larry Jacobs
Irving Madison
Al McKinney
Jacob Sheffer
Charles Williams[1]

Pockets are an American R&B band.[1][2]

History

The Baltimore based band was firstly dubbed the Pockets by singer Luther Ingram as a description of their musical style.[3] As a septet the band went on to record several demos at Sheffield Studios in 1975. Being mostly top 40 covers and four original songs these records didn't make much of an impact. With this being so band member Al McKinney eventually met up with John Mackey of the Baltimore Colts. Mackey happened to be Verdine White's next-door neighbor and thus a cassette of the group was passed along to White who became impressed. White went on to bring in Larry Jacobs from San Francisco to be the group's lead vocalist.[4] As an eight-man band the Pockets got signed in 1977 to Columbia Records. The group then started recording their first album which was being produced by White.[5][6]

Entitled Come Go With Us the Pockets debut LP was issued in October 1977 by Columbia. Come Go With Us got to no. 17 upon the Billboard Top R&B Albums charts.[7] The album's lead single "Come Go With Me" also rose to nos. 17 & 32 upon the Billboard Hot R&B Songs and Dance Club Songs charts.[6][8][9]. Later in 1978, they released "Take It On Up" / "Sphinx".[10] With this entry, they were in the charts again with "Take It On Up", which made it to no 24 in the R&B charts.[11] Pocket's sophomore album Take It On Up was produced by Verdine White, Robert Wright and Maurice White.[12][13] They would go on to have a third R&B top 40 hit with "So Delicious" which made it to no 34. Other songs that charted were "Catch Me", and "Happy for Love". The latter charted at 69 in the R&B chart and no 79 in the dance chart.[14]

The band eventually reformed and along with another classic R&B act Breakwater went about a tour of the United Kingdom during 2016 & 2017.[15][2]

Members

Original lineup

  • Kevin Barnes (trombone, vocals, percussion)
  • Gary Grainger (bass, vocals)
  • Glenn Grainger (trumpet)
  • George Gray (drums, vocals, percussion)
  • Larry Jacobs (vocals, percussion)
  • Albert McKinney (keyboards, vocals)
  • Irving Madison (sax, vocals, percussion)
  • Jacob Sheffer (guitar, percussion)
  • Charles "Chuck" Williams (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, vocals, percussion)[16][17]

2016/2017 line up

  • Craig Alsten
  • Rick Aspel
  • Greg Boyer
  • Chris Fischer
  • Gary Grainger
  • Glen Grainger
  • Greg Grainger
  • Freedom Imani
  • Larry Jacobs
  • Marshall Keyes
  • Robert Wawa Legrand
  • Edgar Montalvo
  • David Ylvisaker
  • Bryan Fox (Special guest)[18]

Discography

Singles

Year Title US Hot 100[19] US R&B[20] Label
1978 "Come Go With Me" 84 17 Columbia
1978 "Pasado" — 65 Columbia
1978 "Take It On Up" — 24 Columbia
1979 "Happy For Love" — 51 Columbia
1979 "Catch Me" — 69 Columbia
1980 "So Delicious" — 34 Columbia

Albums

Year Title Billboard 200[8] US R&B[9] Label
1977 Come Go With Us 57 17 Columbia
1978 Take It On Up 85 22 Columbia
1979 So Delicious — 43 Columbia
1996 Golden Classics — — Collectables

[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pockets". Allmusic.com.
  2. 1 2 "Breakwater And The Pockets Live". Mi-soul.com.
  3. ↑ "Page 102 Pockets- The Inside Story". Billboard. October 8, 1977.
  4. ↑ "Pockets: Come Go With Us". Funkmysoul.gr.
  5. ↑ Billboard, January 14, 1978 - Page 21 Radio-TV Programming
  6. 1 2 "Pockets: Come Go with Us". Allmusic.com.
  7. ↑ "Pockets: Come Go With Us (Top R&B Albums)". Billboard.com.
  8. 1 2 "Pockets: Billboard 200". Billboard.com.
  9. 1 2 "Pockets: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard.com.
  10. ↑ Discogs - Pockets – Take It On Up / Sphinx
  11. ↑ The Billboard Book of Top 40 R & B and Hip-hop Hits, Joel Whitburn - Page 459
  12. ↑ Himes, Geoffrey (November 15, 1978). "Clinton and White: Two Camps of Funk Music". The Washington Post.
  13. ↑ "The Pockets: Take It on Up". Allmusic.com.
  14. ↑ Music VF - The Pockets Top Songs, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
  15. ↑ "Breakwater and The Pockets". Brooklynbowl.com.
  16. ↑ Discogs - Pockets, Profile:
  17. ↑ Billboard, February 4, 1978 - Page 92 Billboard Hot 100
  18. ↑ Pockets website - Upcoming Events, The Band:
  19. ↑ "Pockets: Hot 100". Billboard.com.
  20. ↑ "Pockets: Hot R&B Songs". Billboard.com.
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