B.T. Express: Biography

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• Brass Construction
• The JB's
• The Fatback Band
• The Ohio Players
• Hot Chocolate
• MFSB
• Earth, Wind & Fire

• Parliament

• Brass Construction
• Kashif

• Billy Nichols
• Barbara Joyce Lomas
• Dennis Rowe
• Orlando "Terrell" Woods
• Louis Risbrook
• Carlos Ward
• Richard Thompson

Formed:

Jan 1, 1973 in Brooklyn, NY

Disbanded:

Jan 1, 1981

Genres:

Disco Music, R&B and Soul Music, Funk Music, Rock Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

This funk-disco group was formed by Jeff Lane in Brooklyn during the '70s. They started in 1972 as the King Davis House Rockers, and later were called the Brooklyn Trucking Express. The roster consisted of saxophonist/vocalist Bill Risbrook, percussionist Dennis Rowe, guitarist Rick Thompson, saxophonist/flutist Carlos Ward, keyboardist Michael Jones (Kashif), lead guitarist/vocalist Wesley Hall, drummer Leslie Ming, bassist, organist and vocalist Louis Risbrook, and vocalist Barbara Joyce Lomas. Their debut LP Do it ('Til You're Satisfied) had two number-one RB and Top Ten pop hits in the title cut and "Express." Subsequent LPs yielded two more RB Top Ten singles, "Give It What You Got/Peace Pipe" in 1975 and "Can't Stop Groovin' Now, Wanna Do It Some More" in 1976. After 1977's "Shout It Out," which cracked the RB Top 20 (number 12), the group slumped with the album Shout They were off the charts until 1980. They made a slight comeback that year with B.T. Express 1980, though only the single "Give Up the Funk (Let's Dance)" made it into the Top 40 (number 24). They later recorded for Record Shack, Earthtone, and King Davis, but couldn't duplicate their earlier success. Kashif scored hits as a producer, performer, and composer in the '80s.

- Ron Wynn, All Music Guide