"TRUTH IN RHYTHM" - Harold Brown, Lee Oskar, Howard Scott (WAR), Part 1 of 3

Brought to you by Funknstuff.net and hosted by Scott Goldfine — musicologist and author of “Everything Is on the One: The First Guide of Funk” ― “TRUTH IN RHYTHM” is the interview show that gets DEEP into the pocket with contemporary music’s foremost masters of the groove.

Featured in this episode (Part 1 of 3): Guitarist/vocalist Howard Scott, drummer Harold Brown and harmonica player Lee Oskar -- all original, founding members of War, one of the most important and successful funk-R&B bands of all time. In recent years, they have performed together as the LowRider Band.

Along with keyboardist/vocalist Lonnie Jordan, Saxophonist Charles Miller, bassist B.B. Dickerson, percussionist Papa Dee Allen, War emerged from Los Angeles in 1969 as ex-Animals lead singer Eric Burdon’s backup band and notched the hit “Spill the Wine.” With a unique and identifiable sound marked by deep funk grooves, heavy percussion, Latin rhythms, sax-harmonica horn section, group vocals and unifying messages, the band struck out on its own in 1971, beginning a run of hit multimillion-selling albums and singles. The World Is a Ghetto, was 1973’s best-selling album. In addition to that album’s hit title song, other key tracks by the band included “All Day Music,” “Get Down,” “Slipping Into Darkness,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Where Was You At,” “Gypsy Man,” “Me and Baby Brother,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Lowrider,” “Heartbeat,” “Summer” and “Galaxy.”

This three-part series provides a comprehensive overview of the band’s legendary history, as told by the originators who lived and breathed it. Part 1 of this series focuses on the band’s beginnings through its Eric Burdon period. Part 2 goes behind the scenes of the classic songs and albums. Part 3 discusses the group’s turbulent 1980s , its rebound and current status as the LowRider Band. See them all!

Recorded July 2017