Average White Band

The popular Scottish funk and R&B band that has produced hit tracks like 'Pick Up the Pieces', 'Cut the Cake', and 'Queen of My Soul' is none other than the Average White Band (AWB). It has been held as one of the top soul and funk bands in the entire history of music from all around the world. The band is known specifically for its outstanding and skillful songwriting that has enabled it to produce several gold selling albums, along with earning various Grammy Award nominations over the years.

Average White Band is a hit funk and R&B band from the 1970's that hailed from Scotland. The band had been started having six band members, whereas, the current line-up consists of five members: the founding members - Alan Gorrie on the vocals and bass, and Onnie McIntyre on the guitars; Klyde Jones on the keyboards, bass, and also provided the lead vocals; Fred Vigdor on the saxes, keyboards, and also did the vocals; and Rocky Bryant on the drums. The band gained attention with the series of soul and disco hits it had produced during the year of 1974, which continued till the 1980.

AWB was formed by Alan Gorrie and Malcolm "Molly" Duncan, with Onnie McIntyre, Roger Ball Hamish Stuart, and Robbie McIntosh joining them in the original line-up in 1971. Both Gorrie and McIntyre were once members of the Forever More band; whereas, Duncan and Ball (Dundee Horns) were previous members of Mogul Thrash. The band stepped forward in a support slot at Eric Clapton's comeback concert in 1973. The band's debut LP - Show Your Hand was released on MCA Records, but it proved to be disappointing, and sold weakly. AWB then relocated to New York, and got signed to Atlantic Records and released the follow-up, AWB, better acknowledged as The White Album. The popular and world renowned producer Arif Mardin had worked on this album with the band, and by topping the American charts, it paved the way for many more albums to be released under his supervision. The albums success, however, got a little bit disturbed after McIntosh's death, due to an overdose on heroin while at a party in Hollywood. His place was then replaced by Steve Ferrone, and the band released its third studio album - Cut the Cake (1975), whose title track was a To Ten super-hit.

The band's next album was Soul Searching which consisted of another super-hit single of the band - 'Queen of My Soul'. The band continued to produce many more albums, including Person to Person (live), Benny & Us, Warmer Communications, Feel No Fret, and Shine, after which is got dissolved in 1982. The Average White Band was then re-formed in 1989 by Gorrie, McIntyre, and Ball, and involved the vocalist Alex Ligertwood for their comeback effort - Aftershock. The band was then heavily touring till 1996, while promoting its upcoming album Soul Tattoo, which released in 1997. Three years later, AWB released its live album Face to Face, which was also a hit.

Average White Band has garnered a huge fan base and is widely appreciated. Their live performances have constantly been very energetic and exciting events to which the fans always look forward to.