The J.B.'s (sometimes punctuated The JB's or The J.B.s) were James Brown's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, The First Family and The Last Word. In addition to backing Brown the J.B.'s played behind Bobby Byrd, Lyn Collins and other singers associated with the James Brown Revue, as well as performing as a self-c...
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The J.B.'s (sometimes punctuated The JB's or The J.B.s) were James Brown's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, The First Family and The Last Word. In addition to backing Brown the J.B.'s played behind Bobby Byrd, Lyn Collins and other singers associated with the James Brown Revue, as well as performing as a self-contained group.
The J.B.'s were formed in March 1970 after most of the members of Brown's previous band walked out on him over a pay dispute. (Brown's previous bands of the 50s and 60s had been known as The James Brown Band and The James Brown Orchestra.) The J.B.'s initial lineup included bassist William "Bootsy" Collins and his guitarist brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins, formerly of the obscure Funk outfit The Pacemakers; Bobby Byrd (organ) and John "Jabo" Starks (drums), both holdovers from Brown's 60s band; three inexperienced horn players...
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