Light of the World (band)

Light of the World were a British jazz-funk band.[1]

Biography

Originally a forerunner of the late 1970s/early 1980s British jazz-funk movement, the band's name is taken from the 1974 Kool and the Gang album, Light of Worlds.[1][2] The band was formed by Breeze McKrieth, Kenny Wellington, Paul Williams, and David Baptiste in 1974. They were then joined by percussionist Chris Etienne (Died 1978), Peter Hinds on keyboard and drummer Everton McCalla.

In 1979 after the death of Chris Etienne and the departure of Jean Paul Maunick they recruited 2 new members Nat Augustin and Gee Bello. McKreith, Wellington and Baptiste also formed the offshoot band Beggar & Co. Maunick and Williams also formed the band Incognito.

Since 2016 Breeze McKrieth, Kenny Wellington, David Baptiste and Peter Hinds have joined together with Paul McLean and Patrick McLean original members of the band Hi Tension and formed a new band The Brit Funk Association. As well as performing their joint repertoire in concerts and festivals they released a new studio album called 'Full Circle' in 2017 on Expansion Records. The album went to Number 6 in the Amazon Popular Music chart and Number 1 in both R and B and Funk. The album also entered the Top 10 of most genre charts around Europe, as well as reaching the Top 50 of the Amazon R and B Charts in the USA. The album also appeared in the Top 20 of the iTunes R and B chart and was also Number 1 in The Sweet Rhythms chart in the UK.

Although no original member remains with the band, Light of the World occasionally perform with a band fronted by Gee Bello and Nat Augustin whilst original members continue to perform with The Brit Funk Association.The band have not recorded a new album since 1999 following the departure of Kenny Wellington, Breeze McKrieth, David Baptiste and Peter Hinds the original members of the band since inception. The Brit Funk Association continue to record and release new material with a second album due in Autumn 2019.

Discography

Albums
  • Light of the World (Ensign 1979)
  • Round Trip (Ensign 1980) – UK No. 73[3]
  • Remixed (Mercury 1981)
  • Check Us Out (EMI 1982)
  • Inner Voices (Sanctuary 1999)

Singles
  • "Swingin'" (Ensign 12" 1979) – UK No. 45
  • "Midnight Groovin'" (Ensign 12" 1979) – UK No. 72
  • "The Boys in Blue" (Ensign 12" 1980)
  • "This Is This" (Ensign 12" 1980)
  • "London Town" (Ensign 12" 1980) – UK No. 41
  • "Pete's Crusade" (Ensign 12" 1980)
  • "I Shot The Sheriff" (Ensign 12" 1980) – UK No. 40
  • "Time" (Mercury 12" Remix 1980)
  • "I'm So Happy" / "Time" (Mercury 12" 1981) – UK No. 35
  • "Somebody Help Me Out" (Ensign Records 1981) by Beggar & Co – UK No. 15
  • "Mule Chant No.2" (RCA 1981) by Beggar & Co – UK # 27
  • "Ride The Love Train" (EMI 1981) – UK No. 49
  • "No. 1 Girl" (EMI 12" 1982)
  • "Keep The Dream Alive" (1990)
  • "Expansions" (Ensign 1992)
  • "Got To Get Your Own" (Ensign 1992)
  • "City Life" (Sanctuary 1999)
  • "Slow Down" (Sanctuary 1999)[3]

References
  1. Simpson, Dave (8 August 2009). "Music - The scenes that time forgot". theguardian.com. The Guardian.
  2. Lester, Paul (5 February 2014). "10 of the best: Britfunk". theguardian.com. The Guardian.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 321. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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