DC MUSIC HISTORY
THE SEVENTIES

DC SOUND  •  BYGONE YEARS  •  EARLY YEARS  •  SEVENTIES  •  EIGHTIES  •  NINETIES  •  RECENT YEARS 
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK     RONI STONEMAN      THE SLICKEE BOYS
MARTHA HIGH      VAN McCOY       WILLIAM DeVAUGHN       THE BLACKBYRDS
CHUCK BROWN       AMII STEWART      RICHARD SMALLWOOD       VERNON BURCH      ROBERT GORDON       THE NIGHTHAWKS       DANNY GATTON
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK - Ella's Song
Sweet Honey In The Rock was formed in Washington DC in 1973. The group was founded by Bernice Johnson Reagon - a vocal instructor at the Washington DC Black Repertory Company. The group's name was based on Psalm 81:16, a song that tells a story of a land so abundant that honey would flow out of a rock cracked open. The all-woman African-American a cappella group received several Grammy nominations, including one for their children's album - Still The Same Me. In 1988 they won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album. Over the years, over twenty women have been a part of this four-woman ensemble.
Roni Stoneman is best know for her banjo playing and antics on the popular 1970's TV show Hee Haw. Stoneman was born in Washington DC in 1938, her father was Ernest "Pop" Stoneman - one of country music's first recording artists. In 1941, Pop bought a plot of land in Maryland and built a shack for his wife and thirteen children. The children formed a family country music group known as The Stoneman Family  - Roni was the youngest member. In 1947, The Stoneman Family won a talent show at DAR Constitution Hall, the TV exposure they received established their career in music. In 1967, they received the CMA award for Vocal Group Of The Year.
GOIN' UP CRIPPLE CREEK - The Stoneman Family
YA GOTTA TELL ME WHY - The Slickee Boys
WHEN I GO TO THE BEACH - The Slickee Boys
The Slickee Boys were a legendary 1970's Washington DC punk-psychedelic-garage rock band, they hold the record for the most performances at DC's 930 Club. In 1983, the group recorded the song and video for When I Go To The Beach - the video came in second place in MTV's Basement Tapes Competition.
MARTHA HIGH - You Can't Love Me If You Don't Respect Me
Martha High was raised in Washington DC with her original name - Martha Harvin. She attended Roosevelt High School. In the 1960's she was a member of The Jewels. Before long her group was touring with James Brown - where she adopted the name Martha High. In the seventies she released several singles, and in 1979 she released a self-titled disco album on Salsoul Records. In more recent years, she has been performing with the Soulpower Allstars and touring with the James Brown Funky Divas Tour.
Van McCoy was born in Washington DC in 1940. As a youngster he sang in the Metropolitan Baptist Church choir, and he was writing songs by the age of twelve. He recorded his first single, a novelty doo-wop record, while he was still a student a Roosevelt High School. After graduating, McCoy studied psychology at Howard University. He dropped out after two years, and started his own record company. For many years he was a very successful writer, penning hits for many big artists. McCoy is best known for The Hustle, his unassuming hit from 1975.
WILLIAM DeVAUGHN - Be Thankful For What You Got
THE BLACKBYRDS - Rock Creek Park
William DeVaughn was born in Washington DC in 1947. He is best known for his 1974 hit Be Thankful For What You Got. Originally, DeVaughn was a government employee who sang part-time. That is when he wrote the song A Cadillac Don't one Easy. He later re-wrote the song as Be Thankful For What You Got, and recorded it backed by MFSB.




The Blackbyrds formed in Washington DC in 1973 by a group of Howard University students. The group's name was inspired by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd. The earned a Grammy nomination for their 1975 hit Walking in Rhythm. In 1976 they had a hit single with their heavily sampled homage to Rock Creek Park - Rock Creek Park. By 1980 they had released eight  albums.
BUSTIN' LOOSE - Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers / Soul Train
Chuck Brown, the Godfather of go-go music, was born in North Carolina in 1936. Brown moved to Washington DC with his mother when he was six, and he began playing the piano the following year. By the time he was fifteen, Brown had dropped out of school and was living on the streets. When he was in his twenties he was convicted of murder, and he served eight years in Lorton. While in prison, Brown learned and became fond of the guitar. After his release from prison, he started to perform at parties in the area. In 1972 and 1974, Brown released his first two albums with his band The Soul Searchers. His third album with the group, Bustin' Loose, was released in 1978.
Amii Stewart was born in Washington DC., and she began taking singing and dancing lessons when she was four years old. She briefly attended Howard University before she joined the DC Repertory Dance Company. In 1979, Stewart's first single, a disco cover of Eddie Floyd's Knock On Wood, hit number one and earned her a Grammy nomination.                                                                                                                                                                      
KNOCK ON WOOD - Amii Stewart
JOY WILL COME - The Richard Smallwood Singers
GET UP - Vernon Burch
I LOVE THE LORD - Richard Smallwood Singers
In 1977, Richard Smallwood formed the gospel group The The Richard Smallwood Singers. Smallwood had graduated from Howard University, where he was a member of The Celestials - the fist gospel group on the school's campus. Smallwood also was a founding member of the first gospel choir at Howard University. The 1982 debut album from The Richard Smallwood Singers spent on 87 weeks on Billboard's Gospel chart. His next two albums were nominated for a Grammy.


In 1957, Vernon Burch was born in Washington DC. He released several albums between
1975-1982, spawning  a few minor hits.
Robert Gordon & Link Wray  1978
Robert Gordon on SCTV  1984
Robert Gordon was born in Bethesda, Maryland in 1947. In 1964 he recorded his first record with his Bethesda based group the Confidentials. He recorded several singles with the band before moving to New York City in 1970.
The Nighthawks on PM Magazine  1978
The Nighthawks formed in Washington DC in 1972, The bands early line-up was fronted by Jimmy Thackery. Since Thackery's departure in 1986, the lead position has been held by many, including Warren Haynes. 
BOOGIE WOOGIE WITH A CAN OF BEER - Danny Gatton
REMINGTON RIDE - Danny Gatton
Danny Gatton was born in Washington DC in 1945. He began his career in music as a teenager playing in Washington DC area bands. By the late 1970's, Gatton had made a name for himself in the area as a solo performer. Gatton, recognized as one of the greatest guitar players of all-time, turned down a bigger music career to raise his family.
>  THIS IS NOT A "BEST-OF" LIST, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED TO INCLUDE EVERYONE IMPORTANT  <

WHERE TO NOW?

EIGHTIES       NINETIES       RECENT YEARS       WHO IS WASH DC?       HOME       
DISCLAIMER:  This site is for entertainment purposes only. All recordings and videos are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarships and research. "Fair Use" is a use permitted by copyright statue that might otherwise be infringing.