{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{distinguish|Max Kidd (American football)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Maxx Kidd | image = MaxxKiddPromotionalPicture.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Carl Lomax Kidd | birth_date = {{birth date|1941|8|18}}<ref name=Defender>{{cite news|title=Veteran Go-Go music producer Maxx Kidd dies at 75 |url=http://defendernetwork.com/art-entertainment/music/veteran-go-go-music-producer-maxx-kidd-dies-75/ |last=Staff Writer |date=March 16, 2017 |newspaper=Defender Network }}</ref> | birth_place = Charleston, West Virginia<ref name=SPIN>{{cite magazine|title=Kiss me Before You Go-Go |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=16jp_aFRHdgC&q=maxx+kidd&pg=PA67 |pages=65–67 |date=June 1985|first=Michael |last=Cooper |magazine=SPIN}}</ref> | origin = Washington, D.C. | death_date = {{death date and age|2017|3|13|1941|8|18}} | death_place = Chevy Chase, Maryland<ref name=Defender /> | genre = {{hlist| Soul | go-go | funk | calypso }} | occupation = Music executive, songwriter, record producer, film producer, concert promoter | years_active = 1960–2017 | label = T.T.E.D., Capitol, Curtom, Shrine | associated_acts = The Enjoyables, Chuck Brown, Trouble Funk, Experience Unlimited, Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler }}
'''Maxx Kidd''' (born '''Carl Lomax Kidd''', August 8, 1941 – March 13, 2017)<ref name=Defender /><ref name=Discog>{{cite web|title=Maxx Kidd |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/78858-Maxx-Kidd |publisher=Discogs |access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref> was an American record producer, music promoter, film producer, and impresario based in Washington, D.C.<ref name=Defender /> He is regarded as one of the most significant figures in shepherding the growth of go-go music.<ref name=Defender /><ref name=BillB>{{cite magazine|title=Go-Go Music Pioneer Maxx Kidd Dies at 75 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/go-go-pioneer-maxx-kidd-obit-7727710/ |first=Gail |last=Mitchell |date=March 15, 2017 |magazine=Billboard.com}}</ref><ref name=MNW>{{cite web|title=Go-Go Music Pioneer Maxx Kidd Dies at 75 |url=http://www.musicnewsweb.com/story/22281/go-go-music-pioneer-maxx-kidd-dies-at-75/ |last=Staff Writer |date=15 March 2017 |publisher=Music News Web }}</ref><ref name=TheBeat1stEd>{{cite book|last1=Lornell |first1=Kip |last2=Stephenson, Jr. |first2=Charles C. |date=2001 |title=The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop |publisher=Billboard Books |isbn=0-8230-7727-6|title-link=The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop }}</ref> Some of the most well-known production credits included "Blow Your Whistle" and "We Need Some Money", along with numerous other go-go songs.<ref name=BillB /> Additionally, Kidd has done concert promotion for numerous musical acts, such as Lou Rawls, Shalamar, The Temptations, Johnnie Taylor, Van McCoy, and The O'Jays.<ref name=Defender /><ref name=Hollywood>{{cite news|title=Music producer Maxx Kidd dies |url=http://www.hollywood.com/general/music-producer-maxx-kidd-dies-60680272/ |date=n.d. |last=Staff Writer |work=Hollywood.com |access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref>
==Biography== Maxx Kidd was born on August 8, 1941, and raised in Charleston, West Virginia.<ref name=Defender /><ref name=SPIN /><ref name=BillB /> During his youth in West Virginia, he met Nat King Cole in a nightclub which was owned by his father.<ref name=Discog/><ref name=BillB /><ref name=WCP>{{cite news|title=Maxx Kidd, Go-Go's Fiercest Advocate, Has Died |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/20855392/maxx-kidd-gogos-fiercest-advocate-has-died |first=Steve |last=Kiviat |date=March 20, 2017 |newspaper=Washington City Paper}}</ref> This encounter sparked Kidd's interest in the music industry.<ref name=WCP /> Thereafter, he became a calypso singer at a drive-in restaurant.<ref name=BillB /><ref name=WCP />
Kidd briefly served in the United States Army before relocating to Washington, D.C. in 1960.<ref name=Defender /><ref name=WCP /> After arriving in D.C., Kidd joined soul group The Enjoyables,<ref name=BillB /> whose members included Keni St. Lewis, James Johnson, William Britton, Gerald Richardson, and Sidney Hall.<ref name=Defender /><ref name=DiscogEnjoy>{{cite web|title=The Enjoyables |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2123490-The-Enjoyables |publisher=Discogs |access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=ENJOY>{{cite web|title=The Enjoyables {{!}} Biography | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-enjoyables-mn0000055077 |first=Andrew |last=Hamilton |website=AllMusic |access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref> The group released their debut single "Push a Little Harder" on Capitol Records in 1964, and the follow-up single "Shame" in 1966 on the D.C.-based label Shrine Records.<ref name=WCP /> Additionally, Kidd also worked with Curtis Mayfield's record label "Curtom Records", where he collaborated with Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler and Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers.<ref name=Defender /><ref name=WCP /> He created his own record label T.T.E.D. (the initials stood for "Tolerance, Trust, Eternal dedication, and Determination") and released numerous go-go singles and albums.<ref name=BillB /><ref name=Hollywood /><ref name=WCP />
In 1992, Kidd suffered a stroke and was faced with continuing health issues for the remainder of his life.<ref name=WCP /><ref name=WUSA>{{cite web |title=#OffScriptOn9: Remember Go-Go pioneer Maxx Kidd |url=http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/-offscripton9-remember-go-go-pioneer-maxx-kidd-/425999153 |date=March 27, 2017 |first=Bruce |last=Johnson |author-link=Bruce Johnson (journalist) |publisher=WUSA*9 {{!}} OFFSCRIPT with Bruce Johnson }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He died on March 13, 2017, in Chevy Chase, Maryland at the age of 75.<ref name=BillB /><ref name=Hollywood /><ref name=WCP /> Kidd was survived by five daughters, one son, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, four siblings, and a son-in-law.<ref name=Defender /><ref name=WCP />
==See also== * Go-go, {{small|(a funk subgenre of Washington, D.C.)}} * ''Good to Go'', ({{small|1985 film}} and {{small|soundtrack}}) * Music of Washington, D.C.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|2000203}} * {{IMDb title|6862622|Take Me to the Go-Go}} (upcoming biographical film)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kidd, Maxx}} Category:1941 births Category:2017 deaths Category:20th-century African-American businesspeople Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:African-American film producers Category:African-American songwriters Category:Film producers from West Virginia Category:American music industry executives Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Category:Record producers from West Virginia Category:Go-go Category:American impresarios Category:American music promoters Category:People from Charleston, West Virginia Category:Record producers from Washington, D.C. Category:United States Army soldiers Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:21st-century African-American musicians Category:Singer-songwriters from West Virginia Category:Singer-songwriters from Washington, D.C.