TOMMY
STEWART
This
is the first full-length LP and CD re-issue for Tommy Stewarts
self-titled tough-to- find album. It’s a legend amongst
collectors and DJs for the party anthem "Bump And Hustle
Music." That tune appears on many play lists because it is
on so many bootlegs and compilations. Featuring a killer vocal
hook by Hot Buttered Soul (Isaac Hayes backing singers) it’s
a little known fact that this track almost did not appear on the
original record, it was only an afterthought put to tape last
minute when the band thought they were a track short.
Recording began in Atlanta, Georgia at Sound Pit Recording Studios,
and was finished in Memphis, Tennessee in 1976. This was the latter
end of the rare groove era, which is reflected in the combination
of funk with early disco style production. In fact, Stewart is
often labeled as the innovator of disco-funk because of this album
and his production on releases like Southside Connection and Sil
Austin. In addition to “Bump and Hustle Music” tracks
like “Riding High” and “The Fulton County Line”
qualify the album as a classic and one that sits pretty next to
the likes of releases by The Headhunters, Roy Ayers, and the Mighty
Ryeders.
Tommy Stewart was born on November 19th, 1939. His mother, a songwriter,
vocalist and choir conductor, set him on a musical path and at
the age of 10 he was in his High School marching band. He was
even voted “most musical” by classmates at graduation
time. Stewart taught music as a band director while performing
and arranging outside of class. In 1964 he played with Fred Wesley
and members of the 55th Army band. He wrote and composed for TV
and even played with Blue Note recording artist Duke Pearson.
In 1973 he arranged and composed a musical score called “The
Burning of Atlanta” for Buddha Records, another Stewart
collectible LP. This roughly marked the beginning of a busy period
during which he would work as an arranger, producer, performer
or writer for the likes of Clarence Carter, Candy Staton, Johnny
Taylor, Major Lance, Eddie Kendricks, Luther Ingram, Millie Jackson,
Flip Wilson, Roy Gaines, Tamiko Jones and many others.
However, it is the self-titled 1976 album that most people associate
Stewart with, mostly because of “Bump And Hustle Music.”
“It was a last minute song, recorded on the spot,”
laughs Stewart. “It was the one we expected would do least
well.” He adds.
The band was packing up their instruments after the album recording
session. “We had a drink or two, kidded around for a while
and then I came up with the bass line,” he remembers humming
the instantly catchy 3 or 4 notes.
“Everyone kicked-in ideas and we laid down the instrumental
version based on my arrangement. I then took the instrumental
to Ardent Studios in Memphis and recorded the vocals with Hot
Buttered Soul.”
The LP has a peach on the cover. Not because it is Stewarts favorite
fruit. In fact it was purely a marketing gimmick that was intended
to help album sales through the popular Peaches music chain. Unfortunately
the label wasn’t able to capitalize on the gimmick and the
album didn’t achieve instant notoriety.
“I didn’t really hear any buzz on it until
the 1980s. DJs in the UK had picked-up on it, I saw a review in
their Blues and Soul magazine, I guess “Bump and Hustle
Music” was quite a hit over there,” says Stewart.
“Then when the 1990s rolled around I was able to use the
Internet and find out that it was getting lots of plays all around
the world!”
In the meantime Stewart had kept himself busy working with Loleatta
Holloway Salsoul Records diva, and John Edwards, a vocalist for
the Spinners who had releases out on Ace Records.
Now Stewart stays busy playing jazz trumpet and is helping develop
r&b acts. His regular live gigs are as the Tommy Stewart Orchestra
and with Cleave Eaton and Friends. He is also a member of the
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
“I never expected this album or that song to become
an anthem,” admits Stewart. “But I do hear
the connection with dance music produced today. The main difference
is new music is mostly made electronically. On Bump and Hustle
Music we did it live, those are live strings and horns recorded
on the spot.
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