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in music at an early age. He would sneak
down to Killian’s, a restaurant legendary
for its food and nightly live entertain
ment in the ’60’s and ’70’s and located
on Broad Street. “Little” Mac would
stand outside just to hear the music and
to sing along with the band.
/"The Fabulous t ropic practiced almost
nightly at the home of Jimmy Hill and
that band will go down in history as one
I of the finest male vocal groups that ever
\ -pame through Athens.
"" The history of the Common People
Band would not be complete without
mentioning other local past bands like
Walter Allen’s Rhythm Ramblers, Ben
nett Johnson’s Madlocks and Twisters.
The Twisters were later led by Armell
Stroud. Also on the band scene were the
In Crowd, Imperials, Family Rebirth and
the Funk Factory. Three members of the
former Funk Factory now perform with
the current Common People Band. Gary
Jones at the keyboard, Charles Smith,
drummer, sound engineer and Dino
“Fair” Williams, singer.
The rise of discos and disco music in
the late ’70’s took a heavy toll on live
music entertainment not only on the local
scene, but also nationally. Bookings were
fewer. Night club owners found it was
cheaper to book disco D.J.’s than to hire
live bands. Many bands disbanded and
disco D.J.’s expanded. Only a handful
of bands locally and nationally survived.
The Family Rebirth who later became
the Common People Band survived this
onslaught. They emerged featuring lead
singer Charles Burgess and now have an
entourage like no other band in Nor
theast Georgia.
Even though Athens is the Common
People Band’s home base, this band has
no boundaries traveling and has per
formed and played behind acts like
James Brown, Tyrone Davis, Manhat
tan and others.
People are getting back into live enter
tainment said lead drummer of the Com
mon People Band, James “Peanut”
Lester.
From the brass of the Rhythm
Ramblers, to the rhythms of the Grains
of Sand, the vocals of the Fabulous
Tropic, the music was there -and has
come full circle with the Common Peo
ple Band.
Zebra Magazine salutes the dedicated
musicians for their contributions to
recorded and live entertainment.
ZEBRA VOL. 3 ISSUE 1
The Grains of Sand founded by Robert Butler
and directed by Bennett Johnson was one of
Athens' greatest live entertainment bands.
Before'joining the “Grains of Sand” Bennett
Johnson formed Bennett Johnson and the
Meadow Locks and the Twisters. Robert
Butler later sold the group to James Stovall
then Butler formed Family Rebirth now the
Common People Band. L-R Henry Lee
Hopkins, Joe Brown, Charles Shaw, Bennett
Johnson, Venus Jarrell, Manager Robert
Butler.
Cutie Marable, far left, poses with the God
father James Brown in 1964. Cutie, an
outstanding football player for the former
Athens High Industrial School ran one of the
biggest night clubs in Albany, New York for
over 16 years. Several national acts including
the Isley Brothers, Gladys Knight, Jackie
Wilson, The Moments and many more played
at Cutie’s night spot. During his stay in New
York, Cutie Marable never forgot home;
several times inviting Athens’ musicians to
perform at his Soul Shack.
The city of Athens has always been a musical
meccafor talent. “The Dixie Cotton Pickers,
Serenaders, Neal Pattmon, Imperial drum
mers like Alfred Cooper who played with Otis
Redding, Clarance Carter and many more.
Charles Turmond, Dwight Wilson, Robert T.
Billups. This photo reveals a few more of
Athens’ best. Organist band leader of the
Twisters Armell Stroud, the late Ricky Hud
son, and the late Salvador Davis who played
guitar with Jimi Hendrix.
The Allen’s Rhythm Ramblers Band formed
in the late 50’s by Dr. Walter Allen, Sr. played
throughout the Southeast. One of the
trademarks of the Allen’s Rhythm Ramblers
Band was their traveling in the old Benson
Bakery Bread Truck. Dr. Allen, in his musical
prime before moving to Athens, performed
with national known groups as The Count
Basie Band & Frank Foster. L-R front row:
Late Charles Myers, Robert Mitchell, Sr., Dr.
Walter Allen, Sr., George Stroud, Johnny
Sims, Mattie Joe Sims.
The Fabulous Tropics, organized by Little
Mac Stroud in 1969, was Athens’ top
vocal/dance group until 1979. They often per
formed with the Grains of Sand and Family
Rebirth. The original Fabulous Tropics in
cluded Little Mac Stroud, Jimmy Hill, Ran
dall “Bro Bro” Lumpkin, the late Alfonza
Shaw and Chip Jones.