Pockets (band)

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Pockets | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | alias = The Pockets | origin = Baltimore, Maryland, United States | genre = Soul, funk | years_active = 1970s to 1980s, 2016 to present | label = Columbia, ARC Records | associated_acts = Verdine White | website = https://www.pocketsband.net | current_members = | past_members = Kevin Barnes Gary Grainger Glenn Grainger George Gray Larry Jacobs Irving Madison Al McKinney Jacob Sheffer Charles Williams<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pockets-mn0000413146/biography|title=Pockets|website=Allmusic.com}}</ref> }}

'''Pockets''' are an American R&B band.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name=MI /> They had three top 40 R&B hits in the late 1970s. They are best known for their single "Come Go With Me".

==History== The Baltimore based band was firstly dubbed the Pockets by singer Luther Ingram as a description of their musical style.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DkUEAAAAMBAJ|quote=Pockets Come Go With Us Album.|title=Pockets- The Inside Story|page=102|date=October 8, 1977|magazine=Billboard Magazine}}</ref> As a septet the band went on to record several demos at Sheffield Studios in 1975. Being mostly top 40 covers and four original songs these records didn't make much of an impact. With this being so band member Al McKinney eventually met up with John Mackey of the Baltimore Colts. Mackey happened to be Verdine White's next-door neighbor and thus a cassette of the group was passed along to White who became impressed. White went on to bring in Larry Jacobs from San Francisco to be the group's lead vocalist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.funkmysoul.gr/pockets-1977-come-go-with-me/|title=Pockets: Come Go With Us|website=Funkmysoul.gr|date=18 May 2009 }}</ref> As an eight-man band the Pockets got signed in 1977 to Columbia Records. The group then started recording their first album which was being produced by White.<ref>''Billboard'', January 14, 1978 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=piQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Pockets+Come+Go+With+Me&pg=PT20 Page 21 Radio-TV Programming]</ref>

Entitled ''Come Go with Us'', the Pockets' debut LP was issued in October 1977 by Columbia.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pockets: Come Go With Us (Liner notes and album text)|date=October 1977|publisher=Columbia Records}}</ref> ''Come Go with Us'' reached No. 17 on the ''Billboard'' Top R&B Albums chart.<ref name=BBD6>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums/song/315794|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627142947/https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums/song/315794|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2018|title=Pockets: Come Go With Us (Top R&B Albums)|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The album's lead single "Come Go with Me" peaked at No. 17 and No. 32 on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B Singles and Disco Action charts, respectively.<ref name=BBD3 /><ref name=BBD2 />

The Pockets' second album, ''Take It On Up'', was released in 1978 on Columbia Records. The LP was executively produced by Maurice White with Verdine White and Robert Wright also serving as producers.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pockets: Take It On Up (Liner notes and album text)|date=1978|publisher=Columbia Records}}</ref> The album reached No. 22 on the ''Billboard'' R&B Albums chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624044843/https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2018|title=Pockets: Take It On Up (Top Soul Albums)|website=billboard.com}}</ref> The LP's title track reached No. 24 on the ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs/song/373567|title=Pockets: Take It On Up (Hot Soul Songs)|website=billboard.com}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

"So Delicious" gave the group their third top 40 R&B single, reaching No. 34. Lower charting singles include "Catch Me" (No. 69 R&B) and "Happy for Love" (No. 79 Disco/Dance).<ref>Music VF - [http://www.musicvf.com/The+Pockets.art The Pockets Top Songs, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography]</ref>

The band eventually reformed and along with another classic R&B act Breakwater went about a tour of the United Kingdom in 2016 and 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1301781-breakwater-pockets-london/|title=Breakwater and The Pockets|website=Brooklynbowl.com|access-date=January 2, 2017|archive-date=January 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103003134/http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1301781-breakwater-pockets-london/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=MI>{{cite web|url=https://mi-soul.com/breakwater-and-the-pockets-live/|title=Breakwater And The Pockets Live|website=Mi-soul.com|date=6 March 2014 }}</ref>

==Members== ===Original lineup=== * Kevin Barnes - trombone, vocals, percussion * Gary Grainger - bass, vocals * Gregory Grainger - percussionist, vocals, aux drummer * George Gray - drums, vocals, percussion * Larry Jacobs - vocals, percussion * Albert McKinney - keyboards, vocals * Irving Madison - saxophone, vocals, percussion * Jacob Sheffer - guitar, percussion * Charles "Chuck" Williams - trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, vocals, percussion<ref>Discogs - [https://www.discogs.com/artist/154211-Pockets Pockets, Profile:]</ref><ref>''Billboard'', February 4, 1978 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=gSQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Pockets+Come+Go+With+Me&pg=PT91 Page 92 Billboard Hot 100]</ref>

===2016/2017 line up=== * Craig Alsten * Rick Aspel * Greg Boyer * Chris Fischer * Gary Grainger * Greg Grainger * Freedom Imani * Larry Jacobs * Marshall Keyes * Robert Wawa Legrand * Edgar Montalvo * David Ylvisaker * Bryan Fox (Special guest)<ref>Pockets website - [http://www.pocketsband.net/upcoming-events Upcoming Events, The Band:]</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ |- ! scope="col" | Year<ref name=Allmusic /> ! scope="col" | Title<ref name=Allmusic /> ! scope="col" | Billboard 200<ref name=BBD3>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/billboard-200|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623120550/https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/billboard-200|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 23, 2018|title=Pockets: Billboard 200|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> ! scope="col" | US R&B<ref name=BBD2>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624044843/https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2018|title=Pockets: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> ! scope="col" | Label<ref name=Allmusic /> |- ! scope="row" | 1977 ! scope="row" | ''Come Go with Us'' | 57 | 17 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1978 ! scope="row" | ''Take It On Up'' | 85 | 22 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1979 ! scope="row" | ''So Delicious'' | — | 43 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1996 ! scope="row" | ''Golden Classics'' | — | — | Collectables |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" | Year<ref name=Allmusic /> ! scope="col" | Title<ref name=Allmusic /> ! scope="col" | US Hot 100<ref name=BBD>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/hot-100|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624044821/https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/hot-100|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2018|title=Pockets: Hot 100|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> ! scope="col" | US R&B<ref name=BBD1>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624043912/https://www.billboard.com/music/pockets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2018|title=Pockets: Hot R&B Songs|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> ! scope="col" | Label<ref name=Allmusic /> |- ! scope="row" | 1978 ! scope="row" | "Come Go with Me" | 84 | 17 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1978 ! scope="row" | "Pasado" | — | 65 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1978 ! scope="row" | "Take It On Up" | — | 24 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1979 ! scope="row" | "Happy for Love" | — | 51 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1979 ! scope="row" | "Catch Me" | — | 69 | Columbia |- ! scope="row" | 1980 ! scope="row" | "So Delicious" | — | 34 | Columbia |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.pocketsband.net/ Website]

Category:American soul musical groups Category:Musical groups from Baltimore Category:Columbia Records artists