Kenny Wellington, Breeze McKrieth, David Baptiste, Paul Williams and Jean Paul Maunick originally formed the group Light Of The World as an outlet for their burgeoning young talent as teenagers in North London. The bands early performances and recordings were warmly received as they found their own brand of dance music and later with more experience, and a sophisticated and well connected producer in Augie Johnson some much loved jazzfunk. LOTW found themsellves along with their peers Hi Tension at the forefront of what became popularly known at the time as as britfunk. Defined at the early stages by the quick rhythmic guitars. usually a slapped bass with some horns high up in the mix and some well placed percussion.Showing all the influences of the great artists from the USA which had inspired the band but somehow finding it's own space in the end product. The band built a loyal following and began to sell some reasonable quantities of 12'' inch vinyl records and play shows to a few thousand people at places like the Hammersmith Apollo and many festivals as well as other countries. With ideas in abundance different outlets were formed within the band beginning with Incognito which was the outlet for Jean Paul Maunick and Paul Williams to explore their passion for the jazzier side of funk. Incognito are of course renown as among the finest exponents of the genre, Still flying the flag around the world. Kenny Wellington. Dave Baptiste and Breeze McKrieth began Beggar & Co having Immediate National Chart success with their first 2 Singles.Light Of The World had always featured heavily at the top of the speciallist charts and also managed to hit the National Charts On 7 occassions. The peak being the record ' Time' hit the Top 40.However, due to the popularity of the songs in clubs, tracks such as 'Time'LOTW,'London Town'LOTW and' Somebody Help Me Out' Beggar & Co a Top 20 Chart hit were featured on about 20 Gold albums
earning the band members some gold record discs.On top of this as the band began to mature as musicians, particularly after being exposed to the great talents of some of Augie Johnson's musical colleagues, people like the great Wayne Henderson, band members found they were themselves being asked to record sessions for other bands/musicians, Something which continues to this day.
The original founder members perform under the banner of The Funk Jazz Collective which allows for the brevity of inviting mant of their peers to come and perform as part of the collective, musicians from both the UK and USA.
A great CD should be complete any time soon. See full bio below.
NOW AVAILABLE AVAILABLE NOW BEGGAR & CO FEATURING THE FUNK JAZZ COLLECTIVE BRASS, STRINGS N' THINGS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON CD ON EMI RECORDS COMPRISING 17 TRACKS CLICK HERE<
Beggar & Co was formed by the founder and original members of the UK pioneers of Britfunk, Light Of The World,
Trumpeter Kenny Wellington,
guitarist Breeze McKrieth and saxophonist David Baptiste. ... width="425" height="350">....>..
After recording the seminal Light Of The World album 'Round Trip' various members of Light Of The World began a series of other projects. Other key LOTW members Jean Paul Maunick, Paul Williams had already begun the first of many recordings by the now internationally acclaimed Incognito. The first two releases by Beggar & Co were the Top Thirty national chart hits 'Somebody Help Me Out' and Mule (Chant No 2) an idea which came about after Beggar & Co were asked to work with Spandau Ballet on their second album and had contributed much to the success of Chant No 1 which had charted at No3 nationally. Kenny Wellington and David Baptiste contributed greatly to the arrangements for the Spandau album alongside producer Richard Burgess and Gary Kemp. Beggar & Co then toured under the Beggar & Co/ Light Of The World umbrella much like Parliament and Funkadelic.
Around this time the term Britfunk started to be used for the homegrown UK funk bands who had joined the greats of the USA as part of the dancefloor movement. This was the age of the soulboy.
The chart success of these singles combined with the acclaimed work of the 'Round Trip' album enabled the band to play in much bigger venues as well as places like the Caister and Purley Alldayers. 'Round Trip' was produced was produced by Augie Johnson founder member and producer of Side Effect and The LA Boppers. The production duties were shared with founder member of LOTW Breeze McKrieth credited as executive producer after contributing much in the studio.Wellington, Baptiste and McKrieth were the writers of much LOTW material' tunes such as 'Time', 'I'm So Happy', 'The Boys In Blue' as well as their major contribution to songs like 'London Town' for which Kenny Wellington wrote the lyrics at Utopia studios London, with David Baptiste providing a memorable and catchy melody, this from an Idea from Augie Johnson who had hummed the bass line to Paul Williams.
These tracks were all included on various compilation albums which sold over 100,000 copies and earned the writers gold records but more importantly put them on record alongside major influences like Kool And The Gang, Brass Construction, Earth Wind & Fire which ensured the band were being heard by the people into this genre of music. There is also something ironic about the Beggar & Co singles becoming the national chart hits that they were in the UK and a number of European territories.
Despite all of the sophistication of the 'Round Trip' album, with it's lush arrangements and excellent use of some of the most outstanding players around, Kenny, Baps and Breeze simply went into the studio called Paul Williams to put down some bass and added a joint vocal over energetic brass lines and funky guitars and keyboards and watched the record outsell any of their previous records. It is ironic that even the follow up record also did the same. This doesn't detract from the excellence of tunes like 'London Town' and others but it is one of those surprising things that happen.
Original Light Of The World
Breeze McKrieth Guitar
Kenny Wellington Trumpet
David Baptiste Saxophone
Jean Paul Maunick Guitar
Peter Hinds Keyboards
Chris Etienne Percussion
Everton McCalla Drums
Paul 'Tubbs' Williams Bass
This was the original band for the first LOTW album simply entitled Light Of The World.
After Chris Etienne was killed in a tragic accident when the band were hit by an articulated lorry a new percussionist joined the band just as the album was set for release. A fourth percussionist, Ganiyu, joined the band. When the band first began rehearsing in Ickburgh Road, Clapton at the home of then drummer Junior King percussionists Norman Walker and then 'Bunny' (still don't know his full name) had played with the band. The band were also later joined by trombone player Nat, who they had met downstairs in the record shop where they had been rehearsing.
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Light Of The World have recorded in various configurations of these members over the years. The last studio album was the Number 1 jazz fusion CD 'Inner Voices' produced by Richard Bull and Kenny Wellington. The cd was released on Sanctuary and featured Wellington, Baptiste, McKrieth, bassist Frank Felix recorded with the band for the first time after many years on stage. Pete Hinds was absent on tour with Incognito. Ganiyu was invited to record but after initially agreeing changed his mind after studying the contractual offer. Nat Augustin took up the invitation and was given the opportunity to sing lead vocals on a number of tracks in the absence of Ganiyu. Wellington and Mc Krieth had written a number of tracks with these vocals in mind. Nat did a very nice job and has some nice featured work on the CD courtesy of the writers and production team. Currently Beggar & Co are playing UK dates.
oooohhhhwowooo!yeaah!i like your music!all the tracks are good,awesome!hey i knew the vidéo "time"!incredible funky groove there!thanks for your invitation ,it'an honor!blessing from France raph
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