Full performer name: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band includes: Corey Day (vocals); Stony Browder Jr. (piano); August Darnell (bass); Sugar Coated Andy Hernandez (marimba, percussion) AKA Coati Mundi & Drummer Mickey Sevilla. Producer: Sandy Linzer. Reissue producer: John Snyder. Digitally remastered by Joe Lopes (1988 RCA Studios, New York, New York). 20 years before the neo-swing craze, songwriters August Darnell and Stony Browder conceived this cinematic disco recreation of a '30s/ '40s nightclub floor show, complete with Latin rhythms worthy of Xavier Cugat and Carmen Miranda. The two had a secret weapon in the considerable vocal abilities of singer Cory Daye, who could handle all their slithery slighty-out-of-tune melodies (and lyrics) in an ingratiating "trouper" style. Add to the mix the nimble marimba work of "Sugarcoated" Andy Hernandez and you have what was, in retrospect, a truly class act to hit the 1976 charts and a crowning achievement of the disco era. Actually the word-drunk DR. BUZZARD harks back not so much to Busby Berkeley extravaganzas as to the hip camaraderie of the vocalese trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, especially in the way two male principals prepare the way for a dazzling leading lady to lead the conga line in finger-poppin' style. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was one of the most original musical ensembles of the disco era. They were formed in the Bronx in 1974 by Stony Browder, Jr. (b. 1949-2001), his brother August Darnell (born Thomas Browder, 1951), singer Cory Daye (b. 1952), Andy Hernandez (b. 1950), and Mickey Sevilla (b. 1953). The concept of the group was the re-creation of a '30s dance band, A la Cab Calloway, with witty lyrics and a disco beat. All of this was in evidence on their debut album, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, released in 1976. It produced the dancefloor hit "Cherchez la Femme" and went gold. A follow-up album, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King Pennett, was less successful. After the release of a third album, James Monroe HS Presents Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington, the group fragmented, with Darnell and Hernandez going off to form Kid Creole & the Coconuts. Browder reorganized and issued a Dr. Buzzard's Savannah Band (dropping the "original") album titled Calling All Beatniks! in 1984. This is a work in progress.PLEASE VISIT Coati MundiFeel Free to message me if you want to participate in this tribute site.
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