The Average White Band, at various times, consisted of:
Alan Gorrie (b. 19th July 1946, Perth, Scotland) (guitar, bass & vocals)
Mike Rosen (trumpet & guitar)
replaced by:
Hamish Stuart (b. 8th October 1949, Glasgow, Scotland - guitar, bass & vocals)
Owen 'Onnie' McIntyre (b. 25th September 1945, Lennoxtown, Scotland - guitar)
Malcolm 'Mollie' Duncan (b. 24th August 1945, Montrose, Scotland - tenor saxophone)
Roger Ball (b. 4th June 1944, Broughty Ferry, Scotland - saxophone & keyboards)
Steve Ferrone (born 25 April 1950, Brighton, England - drummer)
and
Robbie McIntosh (b. 6th May 1950, Dundee, Scotland, d. 23 September 1974, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. - drums)
The Average White Band, are a group of Scottish musicians, best described as a Blue Eyed Soul group.
They charted several times in the mid to late Seventies, and are best remembered for their classic funk/dance song, 'Pick Up The Pieces'.
Their tongue-in-cheek band name was emulated by James Brown, who covered their famous recording under the title 'Pick Up The Pieces, One More Time', under the name of the 'Above Average Black Band'.
in 1972 in London - L-R Malcolm Duncan, Roger Ball, Onnie McIntyre, Alan Gorrie, Robbie McIntosh, Hamish Stuart
The group were, originally formed in 1972 by Alan Gorrie, Malcolm 'Molly' Duncan, along with Onnie McIntyre.
Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball and Robbie McIntosh, joined them to complete the original line-up.
Roger and Malcolm were known as the Dundee Horns, an affectionate title relating to their educational studies at the University of Dundee.
The two were previously members of the group Mogul Thrash.
Alan Gorrie and Owen McIntyre had been members of the group Forever More.
Owen and Robbie were at one time utilised as session musicians on the Chuck Berry tune 'My Ding A Ling'.
show your hand - 1973 / put it where you want it - (1973 re-release)
They released their first album 'Show Your Hand' in 1973 (featuring 'Put It Where You Want It'), which was subsequently re-released under the name of 'Put It Where You Want It'.
Their opportunity to further their career came with a comeback tour by Eric Clapton during 1973, at the Rainbow Theatre, which led to the group signing to the MCA imprint.
awb - the white album - 1974 / cut the cake - 1975
Eric's manager (Bruce McCaskill) took to the group and agreed to manage them, and took them to Los Angeles, where they recorded a follow up album entitled 'AWB' in 1974.
The album featured 'Pick Up The Pieces', along with a cover of the Isley Brothers song, 'Work To Do'.
The Arif Mardin produced set became known as 'the White Album', and reached number 1 on the Hot 100 chart.
robbie mcintosh
Tragedy struck that year when Robbie McIntosh took an overdose of heroin at a Los Angeles party in September that year.
Alan Gorrie also took the drug, however, he survived, and a benefit was organised to raise finances for Robbie McIntosh's widow.
Steve Ferrone (ex Bloodstone, and Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, as with Robbie McIntosh) was brought in to replace Robbie.
In 1975, the single 'Pick Up The Pieces' was released as a single from the 'AWB' album and quickly reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song was later awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in March 1975.
1975 saw the release of the album 'Cut The Cake' (featuring 'If I Ever Lose This Heaven'), which was followed by 'Soul Searching' in 1976 (featuring 'Queen Of My Soul').
soul searching - 1976 / person to person - 1977 / benny & us / warmer communications - 1978
In 1977, the AWB released two albums, firstly the live double album, 'Person To Person', which was followed by 'Benny & Us', a collaboration with Ben E. King (which featured their recording of the Prince Phillip Mitchell tune 'Star In The Ghetto' and 'Get It Up For Love').
1978 and 1979 saw the release of two RCA Records albums, namely 'Warmer Communications' and 'Feel No Fret'.
feel no fret - 1979 / shine - 1980
1980's 'Shine' included their number 12 chart hit 'Let's Go Round Again'.
cupid's in fashion - 1982 / after shock - 1989
They released two further albums before, initially, disbanding in 1982.
Steve Ferrone went on to collaborate with Duran Duran whilst Hamish Stuart joined Paul McCartney's band.
In 1985 Alan Gorrie released a solo album, entitled 'Sleepless Nights'
Alan Gorrie, Owen McIntyre, and Roger Ball reunited the AWB in 1989, releasing 'Aftershock', with Roger departing the band shortly after its release.
He was replaced by Fred Vigdor (aka Freddy V).
soul tattoo - 1997 / face to face - 1999
The group still continued to release material including 'Soul Tattoo' in 1997, 'Face to Face', in 1999.
When Eliot Lewis left AWB in September 2002, he was replaced by Klyde Jones.At this point, the group included Alan Gorrie (bass, lead vocals), Klyde Jones (guitar, keyboard, lead vocals), Onnie McIntyre (guitar, vocals), Freddy V (sax, keyboard, vocals) and Brian Dunne (drums).
Alan Gorrie and Owen McIntyre are the only remaining original members of the band.
In 2010 the Average White Band continue to perform.
Albums:
as Average White Band:
Show Your Hand - reissued as - Put It Where You Want It (MCA Records 1973)
AWB (Atlantic Records 1974)
Cut The Cake (Atlantic Records 1975)
Soul Searching (Atlantic Records 1976)
Person To Person (Atlantic Records 1977)
as Average White Band and Ben E. King:
Benny And Us (Atlantic Records 1977)
as Average White Band:
Warmer Communications (RCA Records 1978)
Feel No Fret (RCA Records 1979)
Shine (RCA Records 1980)
Volume VIII (RCA Records 1980)
Cupid's In Fashion (RCA Records 1982)
After Shock (Polydor Records 1989)
Soul Tattoo (Artful Records 1997)
Face To Face Live (EMI Capitol Records 1999)
Soul and the City (CC Entertainment Records)
