{{Short description|American funk group}} {{use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Brass Construction | origin = Brooklyn, New York, United States | genre = Funk, disco | years_active = 1968–1985 | label = United Artists Records, Capitol Records, Epic Records | past_members = Wade Williamston<br/>Sandy Billups<br/>Morris Price<br/>Larry Payton (deceased)<br/>Jesse Ward Jr. (deceased) <br/>Michael "Micky" Grudge<br/>Wayne Parris<br/>Alvin Haskin<br/>Duane Cahill<br/>Joseph Arthur-Wong (deceased)<br/>Randy Muller | website = {{official website|https://www.brassconstruction.com/}} }}
'''Brass Construction''' was an American funk group formed in Brooklyn, New York, United States, in 1968. They were originally known as Dynamic Soul,<ref name="Soul">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Brass%20Construction.html|title=Brass Construction Page|website=Soulwalking.co.uk|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref> and went on to record a string of hit singles and albums through 1985.
==Career== Signed in 1975 by Sid Maurer, and former United Artists Records promotion man Fred Frank, they scored two US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 entries in 1976, the most successful being "Movin'," which hit No. 14. They had much more success on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, with nine chart entries, including "Movin{{'"}}, which reached No. 1. Singer, pianist, flautist and arranger Randy Muller went on to score a number of R&B hits with Skyy and B. T. Express.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=174}}</ref>
Over the years, Brass Construction members have included Wade Williamston (bass), Sandy Billups (percussion), Morris Price (trumpet), Larry Payton (drums), Jesse Ward Jr. (saxophone), Michael "Micky" Grudge (saxophone), Wayne Parris (trumpet), Alvin Haskin (original trombone player on "Movin{{'"}}), Duane Cahill (trombone), Joseph Arthur-Wong (guitar), and Randy Muller (lead vocals),<ref name="Brass"/> later joined by Lee Evans on keyboards.
Brass Construction reunited for a concert on November 28, 2005, at the Bataclan Arena in Paris, France.<ref name="Brass">{{Cite web|url=http://www.brassconstruction.com/home.html|title=Brass Construction - Platinum Recording - Grammy Nominated Band|website=Brassconstruction.com|accessdate=October 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125151308/http://www.brassconstruction.com/home.html|archive-date=November 25, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Joseph Arthur-Wong died in 1998. Jesse Ward Jr. died in 2016.<ref>[https://musicindustryquarterly.com/2016-an-unprecedented-year-for-farewells-to-musical-greatness-by-a-scott-galloway/ A. Scott Galloway, "2016: An Unprecedented Year For Farewells To Musical Greatness", ''Soultracks.com'']. Retrieved 19 April 2020</ref> Drummer Larry Payton died on March 21, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soultracks.com/story-larry-payton-brass-construction-dies|title=R.I.P. Brass Construction's amazing drummer, Larry Payton|date=March 30, 2016|website=Soultracks.com|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/3991-larry-payton-dies.html|title=LARRY PAYTON DIES.....|website=Soulandjazzandfunk.com|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications ! rowspan="2"| Record label |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"| US<br><ref name="allmusic">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brass-construction-mn0000932922|title=US Charts > Brass Construction|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2015-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122080825/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brass-construction-mn0000932922/awards|archive-date=November 22, 2012}}</ref> ! width="35"| US<br>R&B<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! width="35"| CAN<br><ref name="can">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=hurqbdotddc7nd1ok6pptm0n21&q1=Brass+Construction&q2=&interval=20|title=CAN Charts > Brass Construction|magazine=RPM|accessdate=2015-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402161302/https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=hurqbdotddc7nd1ok6pptm0n21&q1=Brass+Construction&q2=&interval=20|archive-date=2015-04-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> ! width="35"| UK<br><ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15675/brass-construction/|title=UK Charts > Brass Construction|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=2015-03-25}}</ref> |- | 1975 | align="left"| ''Brass Construction'' | 10 | 1 | 55 | 9 | align=left| * RIAA: Platinum<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Brass+Construction#search_section|title=US Certifications > Brass Construction|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|accessdate=2020-05-25}}</ref> * BPI: Silver<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/1051-137-2|title=Brass Construction: Brass Construction|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|accessdate=2020-05-25}}</ref> | rowspan="6"| United Artists |- | 1976 | align="left"| ''Brass Construction II'' | 26 | 3 | — | — | align=left| * RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa"/> |- | rowspan="1"| 1977 | align="left"| ''Brass Construction III'' | 66 | 16 | — | — | align=left| * RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa"/> |- | rowspan="1"| 1978 | align="left"| ''Brass Construction IV'' | 174 | 24 | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="1"| 1979 | align="left"| ''Brass Construction 5'' | 89 | 18 | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="1"| 1980 | align="left"| ''Brass Construction 6'' | 121 | 32 | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="1"| 1982 | align="left"| ''Attitudes'' | 114 | 21 | — | — | align=left| | rowspan="1"| Liberty |- | rowspan="1"| 1983 | align="left"| ''Conversations'' | 176 | 29 | — | — | align=left| | rowspan="3"| Capitol |- | rowspan="1"| 1984 | align="left"| ''Renegades'' | — | 31 | — | 94 | align=left| |- | rowspan="1"| 1985 | align="left"| ''Conquest'' | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
===Compilation albums=== *''Golden Classics'' (1991, Collectables) *''The Best of Brass Construction: Movin' & Changin{{'}}'' (1993, EMI) *''Get Up to Get Down: Brass Construction's Funky Feeling'' (1997, Capitol) *''Classic Masters'' (2002, EMI/Capitol) *''Something for the Weekend: 10 Extended Soul Weekender Classics'' (2006, Stateside)
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="8"| Peak chart positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"| US<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! width="35"| US<br>R&B<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! width="35"| US<br>Dan<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! width="35"| BEL<br><ref name="bel">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Brass+Construction|title=BEL Charts > Brass Construction|publisher=Top 30|accessdate=2015-03-25}}</ref> ! width="35"| CAN<br><ref name="can"/> ! width="35"| NLD<br><ref name="nld">{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Brass+Construction|title=NLD Charts > Brass Construction|publisher=MegaCharts|accessdate=2015-03-25}}</ref> ! width="35"| NZ<br><ref name="nz">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Brass+Construction|title=NZ Charts > Brass Construction|publisher=Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|accessdate=2015-03-15}}</ref> ! width="35"| UK<br><ref name="uk"/> |- | rowspan="1"|1970 | align="left"| "Two Timin' Lady" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan="3"|1976 | align="left"| "Movin'{{-"}} | 14 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 47 | 10 | — | 23 |- | align="left"| "Changin{{'"}} | — | 24 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Ha Cha Cha (Funktion)" | 51 | 8 | 14 | — | — | — | — | 37 |- | rowspan="3"|1977 | align="left"| "The Message (Inspirational)" | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "What's on Your Mind (Expression)" | — | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "We" / "Celebrate" | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan="4"|1978 | align="left"| "L-O-V-E-U" | 104 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Celebrate" | — | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Help Yourself" | — | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Get Up" | — | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan="1"|1979 | align="left"| "Right Place" | — | 41 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan="3"|1980 | align="left"| "Music Makes You Feel Like Dancing" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 |- | align="left"| "I'm Not Gonna Stop" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "How Do You Do (What You Do to Me)" | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan="2"|1982 | align="left"| "Can You See the Light" | — | 23 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Attitude" | — | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan="2"|1983 | align="left"| "Walkin' the Line" | — | 28 | 17 | — | — | — | — | 47 |- | align="left"| "We Can Work It Out" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 70 |- | rowspan="3"|1984 | align="left"| "Never Had a Girl" | — | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Partyline" | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | 56 |- | align="left"| "International" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 70 |- | rowspan="1"|1985 | align="left"| "Give and Take" | — | 76 | 28 | — | — | — | — | 62 |- | rowspan="2"|1988 | align="left"| "Movin' 1988" | — | — | 50 | — | — | — | 41 | 24 |- | align="left"| "Ha Cha Cha" <small>(re-release)</small> | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 94 |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
==Band members== *Randy Muller – Keyboards/ Lead vocals *Wade Williamston – Bass *Joseph Arthur-Wong (d.1998) – Guitar *Larry Payton (1955 – March 21, 2016) – Drums *Jesse Ward Jr. (d.2016) – Saxophone *Michael "Micky" Grudge – Saxophone *Wayne Parris – Trumpet *Morris Price – Trumpet *Sandy Billups – Percussion
==See also== *List of Billboard number-one dance club songs *List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100905034622/http://www.brassconstruction.com/home.html Official website] * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000932922|label=Brass Construction}} *[http://www.plazarecords.com Randy Muller's official website] *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/9q3n BBC.co.uk review]
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Category:American funk musical groups Category:American dance music groups Category:American soul musical groups Category:Stateside Records artists