SAMPLE THIS: September 13 Release (Please SHARE)by Andrew Earl Singer, CEO of Worldwide Talent Magazine
The Thrilling Saga of the Creation of Hip Hop and all of its Mystique, Lying, Stealing, Cheating, Conniving, Passion, Violence, Drugs and the Music
The film SAMPLE THIS was produced by Bob Burris for Propinquity Films and also features the narration by Gene Simmons: King of Theatrical Rock of KISS and the talents of; Ahmir Khalib Thompson (aka Questlove), King Errisson: King of Hip Hop, Jerry Butler, Freda Payne, Grandmaster Caz, Melle Mel, Roosevelt Grier and Afrika Bambaataa.
“The film, narrated by Gene Simmons of KISS, portrays the saga of an amazing series of events that gave producer Michael Viner an unusual opportunity in the annals of music history and this is the first time that the Hip Hop generation is going to properly be introduced to the masses. The music world is going to be shocked at the ingenuity of Producer Viner and his understanding of the talent that he brought together in the 1970’s”, according to Andrew Earl Singer, CEO of Worldwide Talent Magazine.
Michael Viner, Record and Film Producer (Producer of the Inaugural Ball for President Richard Nixon in 1973) had the opportunity to personally know a group of studio musicians that was experimenting with innovative percussion beats and sounds from throughout the world, led in major part by King Errisson and his powerful percussion drumming, if you have had the opportunity to see the rock hard fingers of the King, you would realize that he was ready to lead this elite pack and be an essential member of the most important and least known band in the1970s, the Incredible Bongo Band. Michael Viner, as some have said was an opportunist and saw two very talented drummers with different styles but well connected to the music scene and paired them in what he saw was an explosive duality of percussive exchange that he could exploit. The album did not meet the success that he envisioned and he moved on to other projects with the intent of realizing its worth after DJ Herc gave it new life in the rapture of the Hip Hop phenomena and so he produced “Sample This” many years later. Unfortunately, Viner died at the age of 65 on August 8, 2009, from cancer in Beverly Hills, Ca., and will not see the impact of his movie as it reaches the masses.
Los Angeles composer, producer, musician and songwriter, Perry Botkin arranged the material on “Bongo Rock” and “Bongo Rock” is the most sampled Record Album by DJ’s in the world, according to sources given to Worldwide Talent Magazine for this article. In 1971, Perry Botkin was given an Academy Award nomination for the Best Song, “Bless the Beasts and Children”, with Barry DeVorzon. In 1977, Perry Bodkin Won a Grammy for the Best Instrumental Arrangement for “Nadia’s Theme” (The Young and the Restless)”, with Barry DeVorzon and Harry Betts. Perry Bodkin was a power to reckon with in the world of music and his personal ties brought him to work with; Hollyridge Strings, Incredible Bongo Band, Bobby Darin, The Cascades, Robin Ward, The T-Bones, Jose’ Feliciano, Harry Nilsson, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, Maureen McGovern and The Checkmates. The Television credits of Composer Bodkin includes; Theme of the ABC Movie of the Week, Mork & Mindy, The Adventures of Ozzie of Harriet, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and The Smothers Brothers.
The drummer that King Errisson teamed up with was Jim Gordon (Grammy Winner) and he was recognized for his exceptional talent as a drummer during the 1960’s through the 70’s, a member of Derek and the Dominoes that came up with the piano composition for the hit song “Layla”, co-written by Eric Clapton. Jim Gordon was not only a handsome and talented musician, he was the go to person that was seeking new and innovative ways to make music and was sought out for that talent by the most celebrated musicians of the day and included; Duane Allman, Joan Baez, The Beach Boys, Stephen Bishop, Bread, Jackson Browne, Jack Bruce, The Byrds, Glen Campbell, The Carpenters, Joe Cocker, Judy Collins, Alice Cooper, Crosby-Stills-Nash-Young, Burton Cummings, Delaney and Bonnie, John Denver, Donovan, Neil Diamond, The Everly Brothers, Art Garfunkel, David Gates, Lowell George, Hall & Oates, Merle Haggard, George Harrison, Jim Henson, John Lee Hooker, Jim Horn, Thelma Houston, Incredible Bongo Band, Thelma Houston, Dr. John, Carole King, BB King, John Lennon, Gordon Lightfoot, Manhattan Transfer, Country Joe McDonald, Dave Mason, The Monkees, Maria Muldaur, Elliott Murphy, Tracy Nelson, Randy Newman, Harry Nillson, Van Dyke Parks, Tom Petty, Emitt Rhodes, Minnie Riperton, Johnny Rivers, Linda Ronstadt, Leon Russell, Seals and Crofts, John Sebastian, Carly Simon, Phil Spector, Barbra Streisand, Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, Redeye, Steely Dan, John Stewart, Mel Torme, Traffic, John Travolta, John Valenti, Andy Williams, Tom Waits, Mason Williams, Frank Zappa, Phil Keaggy, Peter Foldy and others.
Gordon’s rise to the top had a tragic note that altered the course of one of the most prolific contributors of music in the “Platinum Era” as he began to hear voices, a form of schizophrenia. They began to drive him insane and this prevented him from sleeping and playing the drums. The act that changed his life as a musician came in 1983 when he attacked his mother with a hammer and then fatally stabbed her. The court trial did not allow an insanity defense and on July 10, 1984, Jim Gordon was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, James Beck Gordon, prisoner C89262, admission date of July 13, 1984, is still serving his sentence at a California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California.
1973, changed the world of music forever, DJ Herc was playing around with the Incredible Bongo Band album loaded with brass, spellbinding guitar riffs, unusual keyboard progressions, it was way ahead of its time in the realm of experimental music but what DJ Herc heard was the driving beat and heavy percussion and that was his pet project. “Bongo Rock,” a 1972 LP by the Incredible Bongo Band is the catalyst for DJ Herc and it was while spinning this record that he fell in love with the beats and came up with the idea to extend them and play them back to back, that was the act and the moment that changed music forever and gave DJ’s and Producers throughout the street community and club scene what is now Hip Hop and it is also the foundation for Rap music, huge accolades for the percussionist that regularly performs in Neil Diamond’s Band. The story be told in, SAMPLE THIS. Once the dance community took those beats and shared their talents, a whole new music revolution and counterculture has become the NEW RAVE with dancing, style, fashion, tat’s, custom cars, art and bling. King Errisson: King of Hip Hop is credited as the originator of the beat that gave us Hip Hop from the Bowery to the White House.
“KING ERRISSON, he is an amazing artist and we at Wolf Entertainment are very proud to have him with us”, says Hellmut Wolf.
King received his first “big break” at the age of 23 when his talent with the congas was prominently displayed in a memorable night club scene in the James Bond movie, Thunderball http://youtu.be/vgTHZhNqOAc. He left Nassau for drama studies in Canada, formed a jazz band in New York City, and spent a year performing in a Bermuda club where he met Redd Foxx who invited King to appear at his place in Los Angeles. Sammy Davis Jr., asked King to appear on the Hollywood Palace, and Cannonball Adderley became his mentor in the recording studio.
As a session musician, King has worked with a very diverse group of artists representing a wide variety of musical styles. King has been praised as “the unsung hero behind Motown” by Ray Singleton in her book Berry, Me, and Motown as well as by Berry Gordy in his book To Be Loved for his work with artists such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, the Jackson Five, and many others. He has also worked with Herb Alpert, John Klemmer, Doc Severinsen, Ringo Starr, Blood Sweat & Tears, Jim Stafford, Swamp Dogg, Barbra Streisand, David Cassidy, Bobby Darin, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mathis, OC Smith, Lou Rawles, Hodges James and Smith, Mickey Stevenson, Barry White and The Carpenters. He was a featured member of the Incredible Bongo Band and has been a member of Neil Diamond’s touring band since 1976.
As a solo artist and composer, King is best known as a master of funky disco with lots of congas. His early albums are prized by “breakbeat hounds.” His more recent solo albums can be classified as jazz with a Caribbean flavor. His songs have appeared on albums by Neil Diamond, Eddie Kendricks, Flora Purim, The Temptations, and in the soundtrack of the movie, Ted and Venus.
As an actor, King has appeared in the movies Uptown Saturday Night (with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier) and on television in Abe Vigoda’s Fish series and The Watcher, the 1980 remake of The Jazz Singer with Neil Diamond, and the movie Thunderball with Sean Connery.
King Errisson also starred in a music video of the song Mountains of Love. He sings and dances in addition to playing the congas.
Sample This premiered at the 2012 Austin Film Festival and recently screened at the British Film Institute. It is slated for a day-and-date release on theatrical and VOD on Sept. 13.
Noor Ahmed of Reder & Feig negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmaker.
For additional information and Booking of King Errisson, please contact:
Hellmut Wolf
Director – Wolf Entertainment – Wolf Digital
t: +61 401 452 518
e: hellmut@wolfentertainment.com.au
w: www.wolfentertainment.com.au
w:www.wolfdigital.com.au
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SKYPE: hellmutwolf1
PO Box 719
Waverley NSW 2024
Sydney Australia
WOLF ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY SUPPORTS – THE HUNGER PROJECT.www.thp.org.au
