New York Port Authority comprised of:
Reginald A. Brown (bass, lead and background vocals)
Rodney J. Brown (trumpet, percussion and background vocals)
Stafford M. Floyd (fender rhodes, clavinet, tombone and vibraphone)
John O. Hargrove (alto sax, and background vocals)
Monwell E. Lowndes (drums, percussion, lead and background vocals)
and
Melvin Miller (lead and rhythm guitar)
Named after the largest bus terminal in the U.S., New York Port Authority (NYPA) were an obscure funk / soul / disco band that were active in the New York in the late '70's.
The goup were all friends who grew up in the Amityville, Long Island area of New York.
They originally met at school with three members originally working together, Melvin Miller, Reginald A Brown and John O. Hargrove.
By 1969, they were joined by Monwell E. Lowndes, Rodney J. Brown and another musician.
They then formed a group called the Magnetones in 1967, who gigged locally but went their seperate ways, reforming again in 1971.
The group, now trimmed down to five members, changed their name to Moonshadow.
The group became popular on the touring circuit, covering the top ten R & B tunes in their own style.
In 1973 they were joined by Stafford Floyd, a keyboard player who could also play the trumpet.
As the groups reputation grew, they became a back up band for the group Universal Mind, who took the group to Los Angeles to record.
Nothing came of those recordings, however the producers had an affiliation with the legendary Holland / Dozier / Holland set up.
On returning to New York they decided to try their luck in Los Angeles during the autumn of 1975.
They entered into discussions with Invictus and signed with the label in May 1976, changing their name to New York Port Authority (named after the central bus and coach terminal in the heart of mid Manhattan).
In 1977, Invictus released NYPA's debut album, 'Three Thousand Miles From Home' (which was actually completed in September 1976), which was produced by Brian Holland and contained the single 'I Don't Want to Work Today.'In the UK nightclubs 'I Got It' and 'Used To Hate It Til I Ate It' saw a great deal of action on the dancefloors.
Background vocal chores on the track 'I Got It' were undertaken by Eloise Laws.
The group then began work on an uncompleted second album, however, due to the poor sales of the first album, they disbanded without the album being completed.
Some tracks were finished, but never released.
Albums:
Three Thousand Miles From Home (Invictus Records 1977)
