Chris Clermont - Lead vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards Ricardo Wilkens - congas, bongos and percussion Joel Alpers - drums Mark London Sims - bass Other members - TBA
Influences
Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, Jerry Butler, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, Donny Hathaway, The Staple Singers, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Aretha Franklin, Sly Stone, James Brown, Johnny Pate, Leroy Hutson, Henry Gibson, Craig McMullen, Tyrone McCullen, Lucky Scott, Issac Hayes, Chi-Town, Memphis, Motown,...
Plus the soundtracks to the following movies:
Superfly
Claudine
Sparkle
A Piece Of The Action
Let's Do It Again
Short Eyes
The Young Mods' Forgotten Story, a musical tribute to Curtis Mayfield, is named after the groundbreaking album of the same name from The Impressions which spawned the hit song "Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)." Founded as a way to pay tribute to and raise awareness about singer/songwriter/guitarist/visionary Curtis Mayfield, The Young Mods hope to elevate the message of the man which was personal awareness and spiritual growth, truth in understanding the ways of the world, personal responsibility for our environment and communities, fairness and equality, passion and education, racial sensitivity and understanding, and a call to truly walk the righteous path despite the difficulties and challenges life often presents.
We believe Curtis Mayfield was a man of conviction and courage as well as spiritual and emotional strength. He was a man of intelligence and compassion. He was and remains an American National Treasure. We are honored in this attempt to carry on his tradition of music, love, healing, and fellowship.
The Young Mods' Forgotten Story's Friend Space (Top 20)
we might never have liked you. point of fact, we despise you. but that doesn't suggest we don't respect you. dying in our sleep is a luxury our kind is rarely afforded.
“Trying to exhaust himself, Vaughan devised an endless almanac of terrifying wounds and insane collisions: The lungs of elderly men punctured by door-handles; the chests of young women impaled on steering-columns; the cheek of handsome youths torn on the chromium latches of quarter-lights. To Vaughan, these wounds formed the key to a new sexuality, born from a perverse technology. The images of these wounds hung in the gallery of his mind, like exhibits in the museum of a slaughterhouse. J.G. Ballard”
"There's No PLace Like America Today" is my all time favourite album, i would have it on deserted island & played at my funeral... But more importantly it inspired me to sing & play and brought joy to my heart...
What a beautiful project you have going, in memory of a truly impactful artist. Ever since I bought Curtis LIVE in high school, I have been a Mayfield devotee. All the best to you. WIOTA
Keep it strong, my grandmother use to say "As long as you speak the name of the dead they shall forever live" Keep saying his name Curtis to me he was more important than Janis, Jimi, or Jim combined. He proceeded them and influenced them. Many people get caught up in guitar players as in how well they can play leads to me, guitar, is a ryhthm instrument first which is how Curtis defined it. Without rhythm there is no life without rhythm there is no lead. Curtis was the the rhythm poetry and soul of black America, and blacks in North America and around the world.
"People hear us through our voice the world knows there's no choice, and the people in our neighbourhood, they would if they only could meet and shake the others hand work together for the good of the land. Give us all an equal chance, it could be such a sweet romance, to the soldiers who are dead and gone, if only we could bring back one they'd say we gotta have peace."
So true in its time, and even more relevant now when we need peace that's Curtis' legacy.
Curtis Mayfield was a social poet who spoke to the conditions in his time, & our time with an eloquent, True & most necessary voice. He was a Beautiful Brotha (of Mine), a gifted singer, a talented performer, and a humble cat who made you listen, dance, nod your head & THINK at the time.
Curtis Mayfield was & remains to this day one of my Genuine Heroes.
So, I thank you for existing, and I appreciate you for helping to spread the word of his genius.
