James Brantley Interview with Funky16corners
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Rhythm Machine emerged from the group called “The Highlighters”-The band name changed to “Rhythm Machine” after Kevin (Flash) Ferrell heard TOP lead singer Rick Stevens sing a lyric referencing “Rhythm Machine” in the Tower Of Power song “Knock Yourself Out” on the “East Bay Grease” LP. Ferrell didn't like having the same name as a yellow (highlighter) marker.
How did you become a members of the Highlighters?
I met Richard Ball because we went to the same church. We actually started as a singing group with myself, Richard Ball and James Boone. I met some of his friends that went to Crispus Attucks High School. Later we decided to start a band.
Rhythm Machine song “Put A Smile On Time” sells for record amounts at auction… RM horn section Donald Harris and Maride Williams team-up vocally on this modern classic - Harris sings the in-verse falsetto many assumed was bass player James Boone. Put a Smile On Time has always been an audience favorite, and is a standout song on the soundtrack (Funk Station 98.4) of VOLITION’S best-selling video game SAINTS ROW 2. Music composer lead guitarist Maurice Puckett and Robert Dycus (on drums) add additional seasoning to this already tasty vocal and horn arrangement to create this timeless wonder-tune. Mastering engineer Earle Holder at HDQTRZ Mastering Studios in Atlanta GA. sonically-enhanced this and all songs on INSIDE THE RHYTHM to a level that will likely render any prior version obsolete in comparison. “Put a Smile On Time”is is fan’s premier go-to song for a happy feeling.
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I’d actually heard the track “Put a smile on Time’ at a couple of parties during the 1980’s. That was the time of the White Label vinyls which were basically bootleg compilation albums of unreleased or obscure tracks, which never bore the name of the artists or the tracks. These used to get played in the early hours of the parties, round about 4am when the hardcore ravers are still hanging in there, and still wanna dance. These ravers don’t mind that the music isn’t commercial, or in the charts. So “Smile on Time’ and tunes of that ilk where played in full, or mixed around other tunes. I thought it was an unreleased Earth Wind and Fire, or perhaps even an unreleased work of Brit Funkateers “Hi Tension” who had a similar sound on their ballads. So, when I actually found out that it was Donald’s track, and that it was definitely a US creation, I went around telling a few people that I knew who remembered those bootleg days.
Sharron Day
Gallery Assistant
Jimi Hendrix Crib at Handel House
LONDON UK
The cover of the one and only LP by the Rhythm Machine - UNTIL NOW…
LITTLE KNOWN FACT:
Donald Harris was inducted into the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame with his band MAN VS MAN in 2011.Harris also produced a Stellar Gospel Music Award-nominated song in 1998 for Gracious Ladies on Amagem Records. The group represented the USA at the Folk Area 2000 World Festival in Tirana, Albania. It was broadcasted “live” to over 200M viewers on a network larger than CBS. Gracious Ladies made history for being the first US Gospel singers (and all-female) ever to perform in Eastern Europe. The 1998 Stellar Gospel Music Award Nomination was for the song “A Child’s Prayer” (lead singer Ahnjel Harris) from the CD “Take Control.”. Ahnjel can be heard doing ad-libs at the end of “Still In Love.’ - Ahnjel is the daughter of Donald Harris and Jantha Whitmore Harris. Both can be heard on “Inside The Rhythm.”
Donald Harris Interview with Larry Grogan (funky16corners.com)
Can you talk a bit about your musical history before the Rhythm Machine? What kind of music were you playing/listening to?
I have always had a love for music, and entertaining as far back as I can remember. My parents played lots of blues records like BB King and Bobby Bland. I started trying instruments to see which ones I could play. I started taking piano lessons, but the teacher (Miss Cameron) would slap my fingers with a book whenever I would hit the wrong notes. This made me not like the piano so much…..
RHYTHM MACHINE-Hometown: Indianapolis IN. USA
The Rhythm Machine formed in Indianapolis by former members of the Highlighters. In the early days they were primarily a live act, playing locally and touring frequently. They opened for Earth, Wind and Fire and The Emotions, among others.
Rhythm Machine released three 45’s and a full length LP during their time. Two 45’s “The Kick” and “Brenda and Me/Put A Smile On Time” were on Lulu, while “Freakish Love/Whatcha Gonna Do” was on Rodan.