Ripple – Ripple US 1973

Ripple – Ripple

	GRC – GA-5005 US 1973

Ripple was an American funk band from Kalamazoo Michigan. The group was signed to GRC Records and Salsoul Records in the 1970s, and scored several hit singles, the biggest of which were "I Don't Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky" and "The Beat Goes On And On," the latter on Salsoul Records, joined by the Salsoul Orchestra. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia, Wally, Kenny, and Brian restructured the group, adding Victor Burks (keyboards) and Barry Lee (guitar). The group toured extensively around the Southeast, the highlight of which was opening for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on their "Mothership Connection" tour. Wally, Kenny, Brian, Victor, and Barry went on to record their seminal album, "Sons of the Gods". "The Beat Goes On And On", from that album, became a disco/hustle classic that's still being played today.

The signature "oh-la oh-la ay" line from "I Don't Know What it is, but it Sure is Funky" was later incorporated into Marcia Griffiths' smash hit, "Electric Boogie (Electric Slide)."

Band members

• Keith Samuels - guitar, lead vocals
• Simon Kenneth Carter - bass, vocals
• Brian Sherrer - drums, percussion, timbales
• Walter (Wally) Carter - conga, percussion, vocals
• Dave Ferguson - trumpet, flugel horn, percussion
• William (Bill) Hull - tenor sax, flute, percussion
• Curtis Reynolds - organ, piano, vibe master, vibraphone, vocals
• Victor Burks - keyboards, vocals
• Barry Lee - guitar

Albums

• Ripple (GRC Records, 1973)
• Sons of the Gods (Salsoul Records, 1977)

Bio by Richie Unterberger: 

An interracial Michigan soul-funk band, Ripple had an R&B hit in 1973 with "I Don't Know What It Is but It Sure Is Funky," and made several other recordings for the GRC label in the mid-'70s. They were an eclectic hodgepodge of influences circulating in soul music at the time -- sometimes they can sound like a more pop-inclined version of Kool & the Gang, other times they sound like a less distinctive variant of Stevie Wonder. Their brand of funk was neither too raw nor too slick, with liberal pop and jazz influences. Those who like just-pre-disco funk will probably enjoy the group.

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