Musicians
Motown Magic consists of 2 - 4 persons singing to tracks
Greg Miller Band is a 5-6 member live group consisting of some of the most talented musicians and vocalists in SW Florida. These high energy groups are dedicated and professional. |
Ken Folcik
Also known as Kenny James...
Wikipedia
The group formed in 1960 as "The Sunliners" and changed their name to "Rare Earth" in 1968. After recording an unsuccessful debut album Dream/Answers on the Verve label in 1968, they were signed to Motown in 1969. The band was the first act signed to a new Motown imprint that would be dedicated to white rock acts. The record company did not have a name for the new label yet and the band jokingly suggested Motown call the label "Rare Earth." To the band's surprise, Motown decided to do just that.
The main personnel in the group included: Gil Bridges (saxophone, flute and vocals ), Peter Rivera a.k.a. Peter Hoorelbeke (lead vocals and drums), John Persh a.k.a. John Parrish (bass guitar, trombone and vocals), Rod Richards (born Rod Cox, guitar, vocals) and Kenny James (born Ken Folcik, keyboards).
During 1969 the group contributed music to the movie Generation that starred David Janssen and Kim Darby. But a proposed accompanying soundtrack album was canceled after the movie bombed at the box office and many of the songs ended up on the band's next album, Ecology, in 1970.
Rare Earth had a number of Top 40 hits in the 1970-1971 period, including covers of The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (which was used in the documentary video It's Time) and "Get Ready". The cover of "Get Ready" was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, a more successful performance than the original. This disc sold over one million copies and received a Gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America.[2] The group gained a bit of notoriety when it was mentioned dismissively in the lyrics to Gil Scott-Heron's 1970 poem, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which included the line, "The theme song [to the revolution] will not be written by Jim Webb, Francis Scott Key, nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Engelbert Humperdinck, or the Rare Earth."
Rare Earth first came to the attention of the world as somewhat of an anomaly. Whereas a number of white acts spent the 50s stealing hit blues and soul songs and sanitizing them for pop audiences, Rare Earth largely made a career out of taking hit Motown songs and giving them an even funkier rock sound - and doing it as Motown's first major white act.
Ken joined The Sunliners in around 65 and performed on the same four albums as Rod Richards, leaving after Ecology. Ken was late for the front cover photo shoot on Dreams and Answers so the band put Dennis Coffey who produced the album in to the picture. Ken formed Pywackett along with John Persh and signed to Bell Records for one single, he now plays with Classic Soul, Motown, R&B Band The Greg Miller Band, in SW Florida which he now calls home.
Paul Fardella (Bass) is a native New Yorker. He had played in bands such as NY Minute Band
and the Bud Moffitt Band. Recently moving to SW Florida he joined the Greg Miller Band.
and the Bud Moffitt Band. Recently moving to SW Florida he joined the Greg Miller Band.
Feti Caglayan (Guitar) is a native of Turkey and when he isn't here playing in SW Florida with the
Greg Miller Band he is in Turkey playing there.
Greg Miller Band he is in Turkey playing there.
Ira Wilkes (Guitar) - Formerly of Bloodstone. Vocalist, Guitarist, Songwriter and Composer.
When Ira isn't out doing his own thing. He finds time from time to time to play with the Greg Miller Band.
When Ira isn't out doing his own thing. He finds time from time to time to play with the Greg Miller Band.