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Edwin Birdsong
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Key Information
Edwin L. Birdsong (August 22, 1941 – January 21, 2019)[2][3] was an American keyboardist and organist, known in the 1970s and 1980s for his experimental funk/disco music. Birdsong did not achieve much chart success, but developed a strong fan base.[4] Birdsong has also been sampled by other artists many times, most famously by Daft Punk who sampled "Cola Bottle Baby" in "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger", and Gang Starr who sampled his single "Rapper Dapper Snapper" for their song "Skills".[3]
Biography
[edit]Birdsong was the son of a minister and grew up in a strict fundamentalist environment.[5] He joined the Los Angeles Community Choir for a period before serving in the army during the Vietnam War era. While in the army, he was stationed in Germany.[5] He went on to play in clubs in Germany, and then moved to New York City to pursue his music career. There he headed a jazz and blues trio but experienced little success. While in New York he attended the Manhattan School of Music as well as Juilliard as a composition major.[5]
In 1971 he signed a record deal with Polydor.[5] Under Polydor, he issued his first two full-length albums, What It Is and Supernatural.[5] Birdsong then issued one album for Bamboo, Dance of Survival, in 1975, and recorded Edwin Birdsong for Philadelphia International in 1979, which included the single "Phiss-Phizz".[5] Birdsong also worked extensively with Roy Ayers,[3] co-producing three of his albums and writing "Running Away" and "Freaky Deaky" with him.[5]
Birdsong slowly stopped making his own music but carried on playing session work for many well known artists including Stevie Wonder.[5]
Birdsong served as a mentor early in the career of hip-hop artist/producer Funkghost.[6]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- What It Is (1971, Polydor)
- Supernatural (1973, Polydor)
- Dance of Survival (1975, Bam-Boo)
- Edwin Birdsong (1979, Philadelphia International)
- Funtaztik (1981, Salsoul)
Singles
[edit]| Year | Song | US R&B [7][8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Rising Sign" | — | |||
| "Turn Around Hate (Communicate)" | — | ||||
| 1975 | "Dance of Survival" | — | |||
| 1978 | "Kunta Dance" | — | |||
| 1979 | "Phiss-Phizz" | — | |||
| "Cola Bottle Baby" | — | ||||
| "Lollipop" / "Freaky Deaky Sities" | — | ||||
| 1980 | "Rapper Dapper Snapper" | 65 | |||
| 1981 | "Funtaztik" | — | |||
| 1982 | "She's Wrapped Too Tight (She's a Button Buster)" | 55 | |||
| 1984 | "Perfect Love'n" | — | |||
| 1985 | "Too Good to Go (When You Get It Right)" | — | |||
| "Son of a Rapper Dapper Snapper" | — | ||||
| 1986 | "For My Self" | — | |||
| 1987 | "Percolator" | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||
References
[edit]- ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (January 29, 2019). "Edwin Birdsong, Whose Music Was Reborn in Hip Hop, Dies at 77". The New York Times.
- ^ U.S. Public Records Index, Vols 1 & 2 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.
- ^ a b c Savage, Mark (January 23, 2019). "Edwin Birdsong: Funk musician sampled by Daft Punk dies". BBC News. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- ^ "Legendary fusion musician Edwin Birdsong joins the ancestors". New York Amsterdam News. March 7, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wynn, Ron. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ "Edwin Birdsong is the man behind jazz-funk's cosmic moments". Wax Poetics. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 59.
- ^ "Edwin Birdsong Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Edwin Birdsong discography at Discogs
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Edwin Birdsong
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Edwin Birdsong (August 22, 1941 – January 21, 2019) was an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and producer best known for his experimental contributions to funk, soul, jazz fusion, and disco music during the 1970s and 1980s.[1] Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, to a Baptist minister father, Birdsong grew up in a musical, religious household before his family relocated to Los Angeles, where he developed his skills on piano and organ from a young age.[1] His innovative style, blending gospel roots with cosmic and rhythmic elements, influenced a wide range of artists and earned him recognition as an underrated figure in Black American music history.[2]
Birdsong's career gained momentum in the early 1970s after serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era, during which he performed in clubs for U.S. military personnel in Germany, leading him to New York City to pursue professional opportunities.[3] He released his debut solo album, What It Is, in 1971 on Polydor Records, followed by Super Natural in 1973, showcasing his signature organ-driven sound and songwriting.[1] Notable later releases included his self-titled 1979 album on Philadelphia International Records, featuring the track "Cola Bottle Baby," and Funtaztik in 1981 on Salsoul Records, which highlighted his evolving disco and boogie influences.[4]
As a prolific session musician and collaborator, Birdsong worked extensively with vibraphonist Roy Ayers, co-producing Ubiquity albums like Vibrations (1976) and Lifeline (1977), and co-writing the hit "Running Away."[5] He also contributed keyboards to Stevie Wonder's 1985 album In Square Circle[6]. Birdsong's recordings achieved renewed prominence through sampling in hip-hop and electronic music, with "Cola Bottle Baby" interpolated by Daft Punk in their 2001 hit "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," and "Rapper Dapper Snapper" (from his 1979 album) sampled by De La Soul in "Me Myself and I" (1989) and Gang Starr in "Skills" (2003).[1] He passed away in Inglewood, California, from complications related to strokes and congestive heart failure.[1]
Early life
Family and upbringing
Edwin Birdsong was born on August 22, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Sidney Birdsong, a Baptist minister, and Josephine (Page) Birdsong.[1] His family relocated to Los Angeles later in the 1940s, where he spent much of his childhood.[7] Raised in a strict fundamentalist Christian household, Birdsong was deeply immersed in religious life from an early age, attending Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church, where his father served as pastor.[7] His father's role in the church, including singing in a quartet, provided Birdsong with direct exposure to gospel music through family performances and congregational activities.[8] This environment fostered his initial interest in music, as he began playing piano and organ during Sunday school services around age eight or nine, accompanying spirituals and hymns.[8] Birdsong's early years were shaped by the rich gospel traditions of mid-20th-century Los Angeles, a cultural hub for African American communities where church music blended with emerging secular sounds, influencing his foundational keyboard skills and spiritual sensibilities.[7]Education and military service
After completing his early musical training influenced by gospel traditions in his family, Edwin Birdsong enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era in his late teens.[8] He was stationed in Germany, where he formed a band called Birdsong and the Sounds and performed blues and popular songs in clubs to entertain fellow servicemen, honing his skills on the organ.[8] His final six months of service were spent in Baltimore, Maryland, playing in jazz clubs on Pennsylvania Avenue.[8] Following his discharge in the late 1960s, Birdsong relocated to New York City, which marked the beginning of his immersion in the urban jazz scene.[1] There, he pursued formal musical education as a composition major, attending the Manhattan School of Music for two years before transferring to the Juilliard School.[7] Although he did not graduate from either institution, his studies emphasized classical and jazz composition, exposing him to a rigorous environment that contrasted with his earlier self-taught experiences.[1][9] In the late 1960s, shortly after settling in New York, Birdsong's developing talent led to an introduction by producer Wes Farrell to Jerry Schoenbaum, president of Polydor Records, resulting in his signing with the label in 1971.[8] This contract represented a crucial early milestone, paving the way for his entry into professional recording.[9]Career
Collaborations and session work
Birdsong's session work extended to prominent artists in the funk and soul scenes, where he contributed as a keyboardist and synthesizer player. Notably, he performed on Stevie Wonder's 1985 album In Square Circle, providing Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer parts that enhanced the record's layered sound.[6] His involvement with Wonder highlighted his versatility in supporting high-profile productions during the 1980s.[5] A significant portion of Birdsong's collaborative output came through his partnership with vibraphonist Roy Ayers, beginning in the early 1970s. Birdsong joined Ayers' band, appearing on the 1970 album Ubiquity and contributing keyboards to subsequent releases.[10] The duo co-produced three key albums—Vibrations (1976), Lifeline (1977), and Let's Do It (1978)—infusing them with Birdsong's distinctive funk arrangements and organ work.[2] They co-wrote standout tracks like "Running Away," a Top 20 R&B hit from Lifeline featuring Birdsong's prominent vocals, and "Freaky Deaky" from Let's Do It, which showcased their shared boogie-disco style.[2] Their collaboration also extended to the group Eighties Ladies, where Birdsong co-produced and co-wrote material, blending jazz-funk elements with emerging disco influences.[2] Beyond Ayers, Birdsong lent his keyboard skills to other jazz-funk projects in the 1970s New York scene, including session work with Herbie Mann.[10] He also co-produced the RAMP album Come into Knowledge (1977), contributing arrangements that bridged jazz improvisation with funk rhythms.[10] These efforts positioned Birdsong as a sought-after studio musician in New York's vibrant recording hubs, where he supported a range of acts through his precise, rhythmic keyboard contributions.[2] In later years, Birdsong took on a mentorship role, guiding emerging talents in music production. He served as an early studio mentor to hip-hop producer Funkghost in the early 1990s, sharing insights on arrangement and sound design drawn from his decades of experience.[8] This advisory work underscored his ongoing influence in fostering the next generation of funk and hip-hop creators.[9]Solo career
Birdsong launched his solo career in the early 1970s, releasing five albums over the next decade that showcased his multifaceted talents as a keyboardist, organist, songwriter, and producer, blending funk, soul, and experimental elements. His independent output emphasized creative control and innovative sounds, drawing from his session work experiences that provided key industry connections.[8] His debut album, What It Is, arrived in 1972 on Polydor Records, marking Birdsong's emergence as a solo artist with an experimental funk approach infused with social commentary and gospel influences. Recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the LP featured Birdsong as the primary songwriter alongside his wife Michelle Birdsong, and highlighted his organ playing on tracks addressing themes like welfare struggles. Executive produced by Ted Cooper, it established his cosmic-soul style early on.[11][12][8] Building on this foundation, Birdsong's second album, Super Natural, followed in 1973, also on Polydor, delving deeper into rock-tinged jazz-funk with cosmic undertones. Produced and engineered by Eddie Kramer at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, it incorporated Jimi Hendrix-inspired guitar work from Ronnie Drayton and underscored Birdsong's production role, though limited label promotion hindered its reach. The record amplified his experimental edge, featuring bold organ arrangements and a freer compositional style.[13][14][8] In 1975, Birdsong founded the independent Bam-Boo label with collaborators Sonny Hopson and Perry Johnson, releasing Dance of Survival to pursue greater artistic autonomy. This album embraced astral soul and jazz-funk experimentation, inspired by Sun Ra, with tracks utilizing Mellotron for otherworldly textures recorded in a studio once used by Kool & the Gang. As producer and organist, Birdsong crafted a narrative of survival and cosmic exploration, prioritizing innovative soundscapes over commercial constraints.[10][8] Birdsong shifted to the established Philadelphia International Records in 1979 for his self-titled album Edwin Birdsong, a move that granted him full creative control under Gamble and Huff while aligning with the era's disco boom. Self-produced at Sigma Sound Studios, it featured electro-funk grooves and the standout single "Cola Bottle Baby," driven by Birdsong's signature organ riffs and influences from New York club scenes like Larry Levan's Paradise Garage. This release solidified his blend of funk and dance elements.[8] His final solo effort, Funtaztik, came in 1981 on Salsoul Records, fusing disco, funk, and early rap influences in a mutant dance style tailored for underground clubs. Engineered by Bob Blank and featuring bassist Marcus Miller, the album included tracks like "Rapper Dapper Snapper" that reflected Birdsong's immersion in hip-hop scenes such as Disco Fever and Grandmaster Flash's orbit. Following this, Birdsong curtailed his solo releases, focusing instead on production and collaborations, capping a decade-long arc of evolving jazz-funk innovation across five distinct albums.[15][16][8]Discography
Albums
Edwin Birdsong's debut album, What It Is, was released in 1971 on Polydor Records. Recorded at Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, it features original compositions blending jazz-funk fusion with soul elements, showcasing Birdsong's keyboard work and songwriting alongside collaborators like his wife Michelle Birdsong.[8][17][12] His follow-up, Super Natural, appeared in 1973, also on Polydor. The album explores psychedelic elements within funk arrangements, incorporating experimental rock influences and distorted guitar riffs from Ronald Drayton, marking a bolder, more avant-garde direction in Birdsong's early output.[14][13][18] In 1975, Birdsong issued Dance of Survival on the independent Bam-Boo Records label. This release delves into survival-themed tracks amid funky, soul-infused grooves, reflecting personal and societal introspection through its lyrical content and raw production style.[19][20][21] After a four-year hiatus, Birdsong returned with his self-titled album Edwin Birdsong in 1979 on Philadelphia International Records. Produced and arranged by the artist himself, it represents a major-label effort emphasizing polished funk and disco rhythms, capturing the era's club-oriented sound while highlighting Birdsong's versatile arrangements.[22][23][24] Birdsong's final studio album, Funtaztik, came out in 1981 on Salsoul Records. Incorporating disco influences with upbeat funk and early rap elements—most notably on the track "Rapper Dapper Snapper"—it closes his discography with energetic, dancefloor-ready production tailored to the post-disco landscape.[16][25][26]Singles
Edwin Birdsong released numerous singles throughout his career, primarily in the funk, disco, and early rap genres. While few achieved major commercial success, they showcased his innovative keyboard work and experimental production styles, blending soulful grooves with electronic elements. His releases spanned from Polydor in the early 1970s to independent labels in the 1980s.[10]| Single Title | Release Year | Label | US R&B Peak | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Uncle Tom Game / It Ain't No Fun Being A Welfare Recipient | 1971 | Polydor | - | Early soul-funk exploration.[10] |
| Old Messiah / Use What You Got | 1971 | Polydor | - | Promotional release from debut era.[10] |
| My Father Preaches That God Is The Father Of Us All | 1972 | Polydor | - | Reflective soul track.[10] |
| Rising Sign / Help Me Love | 1973 | Polydor | - | Jazz-funk single from Super Natural era.[10] |
| Turn Around Hate (Communicate) / Down On The Beat | 1973 | Polydor | - | Funk with social themes.[10] |
| Dance of Survival / Precious | 1975 | Bam-Boo | - | Title track from independent album.[10] |
| Kunta Dance | 1978 | Philadelphia International | - | Pre-album funk release.[10] |
| Phiss-Phizz / Goldmine | 1979 | Philadelphia International | - | Disco-funk from self-titled album.[10] |
| Lollipop / Freaky Deaky Sities | 1979 | Philadelphia International | - | Upbeat club tracks.[10] |
| Cola Bottle Baby | 1979 | Philadelphia International | - | Funk single noted for organ riffs; modest success.[10][27] |
| Rapper Dapper Snapper | 1980 | Salsoul | 65 | Early rap-funk hybrid with organ-driven rhythm.[28][10] |
| Funtaztik | 1981 | Salsoul | - | Title track from final album.[10] |
| She's Wrapped Too Tight (She's a Button Buster) | 1982 | Salsoul | 55 | Disco track emphasizing synth grooves.[28][10] |
| Perfect Love'n | 1984 | Singh | - | Post-album soul release.[10] |
| Son Of A Rapper Dapper Snapper | 1985 | Singh | - | Sequel to earlier rap-funk hit.[10] |
| Too Good To Go (When You Get It Right) | 1985 | Singh | - | Late-career single.[10] |
| For My Self | 1986 | Singh | - | Independent release.[10] |
| Percolator | 1987 | Singh | - | Final known single.[10] |