THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Emerging from Nassau in the Bahamas in 1971, the band was formed around the Munnings brothers (Ray, Leroy and Frank) and the first song they recorded, aeFunky NassauAE, became a No. 1 Billboard RAEnAEB hit, selling over a million copies. oWe wanted to create something new,o remembers Ray Munnings, osomething that was truly Bahamian. We loved funk but wanted to include elements of junkanoo, the indigenous music of The Bahamas.o An album was written within a week and recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami. oWe brought in more Bahamian themes, like aeMonkey TamarindAE, a wild fruit that grows there.o By the time of their second album in 1976, the band was managed by Don Taylor, also Bob MarleyAEs manager. oDon took us to Byron LeeAEs studio in Jamaica and used Teddy Randazzo (Little Anthony & The Imperials) to direct the sessions,o recalls Munnings. oHe gave us more of an uptempo jazz funk sound with Chicago-style horns.o The album led to a run of incredible bad luck. Booked to support Marvin GayeAEs AEWhatAEs GoinAE OnAE tour, the US Musicians Union stepped in and ordered a US group to fill the slot. They were then added onto a major Bob Marley tour in 1976 before he injured his foot, cancelling all dates.