b. Roy Charles Hammond, 3rd August 1939, Newington, Screven County, Georgia, U.S.A.
d. 16th September 2020, Allendale, South Carolina, U.S.A.
Roy is, probably, best remembered for his 1965 hit, ‘Shotgun Wedding’.
Another of his melodies ‘Impeach the President’, contains one of the most sampled drum tracks in hip hop music.
This track was recorded and produced with the high school group, the Honey Drippers.
The Genies: Formed in 1956: Roy Hammond (lead and first tenor), Claude Johnson (lead and first tenor), Bill Gains (second tenor), Alexander ‘Buddy’ Faison (baritone) and Fred Jones (bass)
Born in Newington, Georgia, Roy started his career, singing with the group, The Genies, who were formed in Long Beach, New York and were active between 1958 and 1961.
The group’s debut 45 was entitled ‘Who's That Knockin’ b/w 'The First Time'?
The single reached number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959.
Roy relocated to New York City in 1965, and recorded his own song ‘Shotgun Wedding’ b/w 'I'm Gonna Make It' for the Black Hawk imprint.
‘Shotgun Wedding’ reached number 14 on the national Billboard R&B chart.
In the U.K., the song reached number 6 on the U.K. Singles Chart in 1966 and number 8 when re-issued in 1972.
roy 'shotgun wedding' c - 1966
The song was followed up by the release of a debut album ‘Roy ‘Shotgun Wedding’ C’ (which didn't contain the hit single), recorded for Ember Records in 1966.
Roy went on to record for the Shout label, releasing ‘Stop What You're Doin' b/w ‘Gone Gone’ in 1966.
He set up a new imprint called Alaga Records in 1970, and reached the R&B charts with ‘Got to Get Enough (Of Your Sweet Love Stuff)’ b/w ‘Open Letter To The President’ in 1971.
Between 1970 and 1973, Roy released 9 singles for the label.
Later in 1973, Roy signed with Mercury Records, and hit with ‘Don't Blame the Man’ b/w ‘I'm Bustin' My Rocks (Working On The Chain Gang)’.
His stay at Mercury Records continued until 1978.
sex and soul - 1973 / something nice - 1975
In 1973, he released the album, ‘Sex and Soul’’, which was followed, later, in 1977 with the album ‘More Sex & Soul’.
The latter album realised a more socially aware aspect to his music, and he then left Mercury.
the honey drippers
In 1973, Roy began collaborating with a group of African-American high school students from Jamaica High School in Jamaica, Queens.
The group called themselves the Honey Drippers and Roy began recording them on his Alaga label.
impeach the president b/w roy c's theme
The Honey Drippers recorded the ‘anti-Richard Nixon’ single ‘Impeach the President’ b/w ‘Roy C’s Theme’ in 1973.
The single went on to be a hugely sampled track, by the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Marley Marl, GZA, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, George Benson, Shaggy and LL Cool J.
Since the late Seventies, Roy has recorded, sporadically, for the Three Gems and Tuff City labels.
more sex and soul - 1977 / i want to be where you are (all night long) - 1984
He released the album ‘I Want To Be Where You Are (All Night Long)’ in 1984, ‘Let Me Take You To Paradise’ in 1987, ‘Rock Me All Night’ in 1989 and ‘Call Me 634 5789’ in 1992.
Roy C died, at his home in Allendale, South Carolina, in September 2020, at the age of 81.
Albums:
Roy 'Shotgun Wedding' C (Ember Records 1966)
Sex And Soul (Mercury Records 1973)
Something Nice (Mercury Records 1975)
More Sex And Soul (Mercury Records 1977)
I Want To be Where You Are (All Night Long) (Three Gems Records 1984)
Let Me Take You To Paradise (Three Gems Records 1985)
Rock Me All Night (Three Gems Records 1989)
Call Me 634 5789 (Three Gems Records 1992)
I'm Working Hard For You Baby (Three Gems Records 1998)
