SJLP5015 - Impulse - Impulse! LP Album

‘Impulse’ was a band of Milwaukee, Wisconsin musicians whose members included Michael Reese (Rhodes Piano and background vocals), Cedrick Rupert (Lead and Rhythm guitar), Jeffrey Williamson (Drums and background vocals) and Robin Gregory (Bass and background vocals). They would become a group in their own right with the eventual addition of another local artist John Gee, who joining them as their lead singer. John had begun performing secular music in the late 60’s with another Milwaukee group, The Chefs, who opened shows in Milwaukee for many distinguished touring acts James Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, Betty Swan and Joe Simon. John also featured as lead singer on The Chef’s 1969 tour to Jamaica performing alongside Bob Marley and Toots & The Maytels. After nearly 4 years John announced his departure from The Chef’s during 1970 his replacement being Michael Moncrete (the group’s lead on their desirable 1973 funk outing “Mr Machine” Pro-Gress Records). A brief flirtation with psychedelia with a band called ‘Rebirth’ and another outfit ‘Stars & Strips’ followed before John finally joined the musicians of ‘Impulse’. The Impulse musicians had been busy working as the backing and touring band for another Milwaukee outfit, the vocal quartet, The ‘Quadraphonics’. The ‘Quadraphonics’ members included Myron Lee, Michael Westley, Kenny Lee and Billy Brooks who recorded the solitary 45 single “Betcha If You Check It Out/Prove My Love To You” for the Carl Davis/E. Rodney Jones owned ‘Innovation II’ Record label during 1974. This release would later be nationally distributed by the major Warner Brothers label. With import copies of “Innovation II” single finding their way into the UK. The record found favour with the soul aficionados within the Highland Room of the renowned Blackpool Mecca and this new found popularity of “Betcha If You Check It Out” led to the 45 gaining a UK release on John Abbey’s Contempo label.
During 1976 the members of Impulse migrated to Oakland California.....
Read the full article at www.souljunctionrecords.co.uk