On January 31, 2026, William “Billy Bass” Nelson Jr. died aged 75. He was musician (bass, guitar), recorded and performed with The Commodores, Chairmen of the Board, Fishbone, Jermaine Jackson, Parlet, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, and Lenny Williams, but was best known as the original bassist for Funkadelic. In 1997, he was inducted in to the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” (together with the other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.)
Tag Archives: Lenny Williams
Graham Central Station: Same
In January 1974, “Warner Bros” label released the self-titled, debut Graham Central Station studio album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at “Wally Heider Studio” in San Francisco, “Record Plant” in Sausalito in California, “Warner Bros Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Russ Titelman and Larry Graham.
Personnel:
- Larry Graham – lead and backing vocals, bass, fuzz bass, guitar, piano, clavinet, organ, drums, percussion, horn arrangements
- Patryce “Chocolate” Banks – lead and backing vocals, electric funk box
- David “Dynamite” Vega – vocals, guitar
- Robert “Butch” Sam – vocals and backing vocals, piano, organ
- Hershall “Happiness” Kennedy – vocals and backing clavinet, trumpet, organ
- Willie “Wild” Sparks – vocals, drums
- Freddie Stone – guitar
- Pascal Caboose – tenor saxophone
- Milt Holland – percussion
- Lenny Williams – vocals
- Clarence McDonald – string arrangements
- Steve Barncard – engineer
- Donn Landee – engineer
- Mallory Earl – engineer
- Tom Flye – engineer, mixing
- Lee Herschberg – mixing
- Tom Anderson – engineer assistant
- Steve Jarvis – engineer assistant
- Mike Salisbury – design
- Herb Greene – photography
- Trudy Portch – production coordination
Track listing:
All tracks by Larry Graham, except where noted.
- We’ve Been Waiting
- It Ain’t No Fun To Me – Al Green
- Hair
- We Be’s Getting\ Down
- Tell Me What It Is
- Can You Handle It?
- People – Larry Graham, Freddie Stone
- Why
- Ghetto
Tower Of Power: In The Slot
In September 1975, “Warner Bros” label released “In the Slot”, the sixth Tower of Power studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito, California, and was produced by Emilio Castillo, Hubert Tubss, Bruce Conte, Chester Thompson, Francis Rocco Prestia, David Garibaldi, Lenny Pickett, Emilio Castillo, Steve Kupka, Mic Gillette and Greg Adams.
Personnel:
- Hubert Tubbs- lead vocals
- Bruce Conte – guitar, backing vocals
- Chester Thompson – organ, bass pedals, acoustic piano, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, backing vocals
- Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
- David Garibaldi- drums
- Lenny Pickett- soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, piccolo, clarinet, contrabass clarinet, lyricon
- Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone, backing vocals
- Steve Kupka- baritone saxophone
- Mic Gillette- trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, bass trombone, backing vocals
- Greg Adams- trumpet, flugelhorn, string arrangements, conductor
- Bootche Anderson, Marilyn Scott, Pepper Watkins, David Bartlett, Ron Beck, Frank Biner, Roger Rifkind – backing vocals
- Tom Flye, Alan Chinowsky – engineer
- Cris Morris – engineer assistant
- Bruce Steinberg – design, photography
- Ellie Oberzil – design assistant
Track listing:
- Just Enough and Too Much – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Frank Biner
- Treat Me Like Your Man – Lenny Williams, Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
- If I Play My Cards Right – Frank Biner, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
- As Surely as I Stand Here – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Chester Thompson, Emilio Castillo
- Fanfare-Matanuska – Greg Adams
- On the Serious Side – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
- Ebony Jam – Chester Thompson
- You’re So Wonderful, So Marvelous – Frank Biner, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
- Vuela Por Noche – David Garibaldi, Bruce Conte, Greg Adams, Francis Rocco Prestia
- Essence of Innocence – Chester Thompson
- The Soul of a Child – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Bruce Conte, Emilio Castillo
- Drop It in the Slot – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
Tower Of Power: Same
In May 1973, “Warner Bros” label released the self-titled, third Tower of Power album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Greg Adams, Brent Byars, Emilio Castillo, Bruce Conte, David Garibaldi, Mic Gillette, Stephen” Doc” Kupka, Lenny Pickett, Francis ”Rocco” Prestia, Jay Spell, Bruce Steinberg, Chester Thompson and Lenny Williams.
Personnel:
- Lenny Williams– lead vocals
- Bruce Conte– guitar, backing vocals
- Greg Adams– trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals, string arrangements, conductor
- Stephen “Doc” Kupka– oboe, baritone saxophone, backing vocals
- Lenny Pickett– clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
- Emilio Castillo– tenor saxophone, backing vocals, production supervisor
- Francis “Rocco” Prestia– bass guitar
- David Garibaldi– drums
- Brent Byars – bongos, conga
- Mic Gillette– trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn, baritone, backing vocals
- Jay Spell – acoustic piano
- Bruce Steinberg – harmonica, art direction, design, photography, illustrations, cover design
- Chester Thompson – organ, keyboards, backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka, except where noted.
- What Is Hip? – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, David Garibaldi
- Clever Girl – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Willie Fulton
- This Time It’s Real – David Bartlett, Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
- Will I Ever Find a Love?
- Get Yo’ Feet Back on the Ground – Willie Fulton
- So Very Hard to Go
- Soul Vaccination
- Both Sorry Over Nothin’ – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Lenny Williams
- Clean Slate – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Willie Fulton
- Just Another Day – Bruce Conte
Tower of Power: Urban Renewal
In January 1975, “Warner Bros” label released “Urban Renewal”, the fifth Tower of Power album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito in California, and was produced by Emilio Castillo.
Personnel:
- Lenny Williams: lead vocals
- Bruce Conte: guitars, backing vocals
- Chester Thompson: keyboards, organ, acoustic piano, clavinet, backing vocals, bass pedals
- Francis “Rocco” Prestia: bass guitar
- David Bartlett: drums
- David Garibaldi: drums
- Carter Collins: congas, percussion
- Greg Adams: trumpet, flugelhorn
- Emilio Castillo: tenor saxophone, backing vocals
- Mic Gillette: trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
- Stephen Kupka: baritone saxophone
- Lenny Pickett: clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute, baritone, tenor & soprano saxophones
- Bootche Anderson: vocals
- Marilyn Scott: vocals
- Pepper Watkins: vocals
- Greg Adams, Chester Thompson – arrangements
- Alan Chinowsky, Tom Flye – engineer
- Lee Herschberg – mastering
Track listing:
- Only So Much Oil in the Ground – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
- Come Back, Baby – Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams
- It’s Not the Crime – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
- I Won’t Leave Unless You Want Me To – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams
- Maybe It’ll Rub Off – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester Thompson
- (To Say the Least) You’re the Most – Johnny “Guitar” Watson
- Willing to Learn – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
- Give Me the Proof – David Bartlett
- It Can Never Be the Same – Bruce Conte, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
- I Believe in Myself – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
- Walkin’ Up Hip Street – Chester Thompson
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