Long
after
their groove ended in 1978, the impact of Cold, Bold & Together,
affectionately
known as “CBT” lives on today. Few other 70’s Northwest scene “Soul
Bands”
have produced the kind of success in the music business as have members
of this group.
Originally
named
“Funk Experience”, the band started in 1971 in a Bellingham, Washington
college dormitory by original members, twins - TC & Jamar Jenkins,
Solomon Harris, Keith Hooks and art student Tony Gable.
Obviously they
were
fans of and influenced by Jimi Hendrix, WAR, Earth, Wind & Fire,
Buddy
Miles, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone and many others that CBT would
open for in concert one day. Their first gig was in front of 2,000
people;
opening for the Chamber Brothers (“Time Has Come Today”), and the
showbiz
bug bit the “students” hard.
The five fellas
left
Western Washington State College and moved to Seattle, where Tony
penned
the new name “Cold, Bold & Together”. With their arrival in
Seattle,
they won the Best Band award at the Black Community Festival and set
out
to introduce their vibe to new audiences. Like other Seattle R&B
&
Funk bands, CBT played “covers” of popular songs played on Soul Radio
KYAC
(where they would become friends with DJ - Robert Nesbitt).The group
continued
to develop their own sound and songs. Jamar and TC primarily produced
the
arrangements, but all the members contributed songs and several members
took lead on vocals.
Their artistry
went
through changes as the group matured, but always featured dancing on
stage,
great vocal arrangements, dramatic ballads, big ‘fros, big hats and
jammin’
funky grooves. CBT was like a singing group and the back up band
combined,
playing together was like being family. Nicknames also became well
known;
“Sweet”, “Three”, “Hot Chocolate”, “Kingpin”, “Top Cat/TC”, “Mac of the
week” “ Funky Foot” to mention a few that are printable.
The band’s
first
45 record on their self owned label was “Dedication” (to our Wonderful
Beautiful Black Sisters), recorded in a partially constructed recording
studio in Olympia, WA. Their next release, “Let’s Backtrack” showcased
their harmony and vocal stylings. Their primary source of distribution
was selling their 45s at gigs, out of the trunk of their gold 4-door
Buick
“Deuce and a Quarter”.
In the
seventies,
bands with “lots of color” were playing mostly R&B clubs, and often
discriminated against by certain other northwest venues. Events of the
late 60’s and 70’s helped shape culture in the Northwest a little.
After
getting to know other musicians in town, diversity came naturally, as
“the
gig was yours if you could play your ass off”.
“Cold Bold”
experienced
growing popularity and a reputation for being different, exciting and
sometimes
unpredictable (they would sometimes drop in a traditional jazz tune now
and then). They started opening for national acts such as the
Dramatics,
Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, Canned Heat, “Funky Chicken”-Rufus
Thomas,
Kool & the Gang, the Sylvers, Bobby Womack, the Ohio Players, KC
&
the Sunshine Band, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
By 1974-1977
their
recorded sound became firmly established. Their next single “Love Song
Turned Sad”, and groove fest “Seward Park” gained strong regional
airplay,
taking the group to Canada and Portland, OR, where they met a popular
new
soul group that would later become “Pleasure”.
Even though
they
could only afford to release 45s on their own, it was important to them
that the B side of each single be just as strong as side A, including
“Somebody’s
Gonna Burn You” and “Stop Losing Your Chances”. There is also a
treasure
chest of un-released originals (in the can) featuring songs produced by
the band and NW legend- producer Don McKinney recorded at Kaye Smith
studios
(now Bad Animals).
With the
continued
popularity of recorded-music dance clubs and the refusal of the group
to
become a “Disco cover band” the guys disbanded in 1978. The members of
the band started to develop their own individual music styles &
interests
like jazz fusion, producing other artists, television, banking, graphic
design, teaching and completing college degrees.
As mentioned in
the
beginning, the group is still on the airwaves, as former members have
top-selling
jazz albums and many have played on gold and multi-platinum albums,
high
marks on radio charts, a Grammy, music videos, major television
appearances
in addition to having toured with national acts globally and performing
at the world’s top venues- Carnegie Hall, London Palladium, Hollywood
Bowl,
International Jazz Festivals, etc. CBT members also joined bands and
recordings
of Grover Washington, the Fatback Band, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Frankie
Beverly
& Maze, Roy Ayers, Ashford & Simpson, Taj Mayal, Patti Labelle
and the Kenny G band.
When you
mention
the words Cold, Bold & Together people fondly remember how fun it
was
to dance and hear “live music”, the clubs, the clothes, the
neighborhoods,
the hairdos and how this band could jam!
Provided
courtesy
of Tony Gable
©2009 CBT
bio-Wm
A. Gable Jr.
© images Gable
Arcives
Gable/CBT
PO Box 12182,
Seattle,
WA 98102
