EN SE DE

  • The Answer

    EHDS-0002

    Artist: Devoted Spirits

    Label: B-emotion-Reyshel Music

    Presentation prior to the release:
    While Devoted Spirits are in the lab working on the next generation of music from the Rock/R&B/Funk band, the first single, "This Generation," is now available. The original song, penned by the band's Sheldon Reynolds along with Earth, Wind & Fire's Ralph Johnson, has swiftly attracted the attention of online and terrestrial radio stations at home and abroad. The track, which will appear on the band's second album, The Answer, will be released in January in Japan by B-Emotion with plans for a U.S. release on the Immerse Yourself label in the works.

    Produced by Reynolds, "This Generation" features an anthem-like arena rock chorus, jazzy scat vocals, a funky groove and inspirational lyrics calling for social responsibility. Reynolds deployed fiery guitar riffs, keyboardist Larry Dunn laid down a smokin' solo and Rhonda Smith (from Prince's band) thumped the bass.

    Devoted Spirits is Reynolds (guitars, vocals, keyboards, drum programming), Dunn (keyboards) and Morris Pleasure (bass, keyboards, trumpet, flugelhorn). All three are former principal members of Earth, Wind & Fire, with Dunn being an original member. Last year, Devoted Spirits debuted with the critically-acclaimed A Tribute To Earth, Wind & Fire (Thump Records Classic R&B/Experience Hendrix), a 21-song salute to their roots comprised of imaginative interpretations of the legendary R&B/pop group's hit songbook along with one original composition ("Rhythm Of Love"). Contribu...

  • Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire

    EHDS-0001

    Artist: Devoted Spirits

    Label: B-emotion-Reyshel Music

    Founding Members: Sheldon Reynolds, Larry Dunn & Morris Pleasure
    Special Guests: Bobby Watson, Ricky Lawson, Francois Dean, John Paris, Randy Ellis, Salomon Singers, Shakiah, David Danner.

    "Mind Expanding Soul/Jazz/Funk/Rock/Gospel"
    By Bob Davis (Soul-Patrol) 2005.03.20

    I have been a frustrated EWF fan for many years. I have always felt that they along with Kool and the Gang & the Commodores led the way for the commercialization of funk music back in the 1970's. In doing so all three groups literally broke my heart as each succeeding album brought their fierce and inspirational music closer and closer to being "elevator music". I am not alone in this feeling. Over the years many "children of the 1970's" have written in and expressed similar feelings of disgust about all three groups. In fact the criticism of Kool and the Gang & the Comodoores has been absolutely scathing over the years. However I have always thought that EWF (for reasons) that are beyond me has mostly gotten a "free pass" on this whole issue. For me the "sellout" of EWF was always the most heart breaking of the three. That's because of the high minded jazz/soul/rock/afrocentric ideals that the band seemed to stand for when I first got hip to them in the early 1970's. I have NEVER forgiven them for abandoning those ideals in the mid 1970's.

    Enter Mr. Sheldon Reynolds, EWF's lead guitarist during the 1990's, founding EWF member Larry Dunn and former EWF musical director Morris Pleasure. At firs...