Stuart Bascombe

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Stuart Bascombe
Stuart page photo.jpg
Bascombe in 2015
Background information
Birth nameStuart D. Bascombe
Born (1954-01-20) January 20, 1954 (age 69)
New York City, U.S.
Genres R&B, disco, Soul, funk
Occupation(s)Songwriter, record producer, singer, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards
Years active1968–present
LabelsTodays/Perception, Buddah, Kwanzaa/Warner Bros.

Stuart D. Bascombe (born January 20, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter, [1] musician, and record producer. Bascombe is an original member of the R&B/soul vocal group Black Ivory [2] who recorded a number of R&B hits in the 1970s, including "Don't Turn Around", "You and I", "Time Is Love", "I'll Find a Way (The Loneliest Man in Town)", and their disco hit "Mainline". [3]

Contents

Early life

Bascombe was born in Harlem, New York City, and was raised in Harlem and in the Bronx. [4]

History

Career

Bascombe, along with songwriter and prolific disco producer Leroy Burgess, [5] and Russell Patterson [6] released their debut album while still attending High School. Black Ivory was first signed to the East Coast label Today/Perception Records, which was run by record producer, Patrick Adams, who was also the group's manager.

Black Ivory's First Promo Photo 1971 Black Ivory first promo picture.jpg
Black Ivory's First Promo Photo 1971

Bascombe with his group scored 3 top 40 R&B hits in 1972, including "Don't Turn Around" No. 38, and "You And I" No. 32 [7] from their hit debut album, "Don't Turn Around", which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard R&B Album Chart in May 1972. [8] Bascombe is credited as co-writer on four songs from that album. [9] Another single from that album, "I'll Find A Way (The Loneliest Man In Town)" peaked at No. 46 on Billboard R&B Chart. [7] Their single, "Time Is Love" was the third top 40 hit peaking at No. 37. Other charting singles included, "Spinning Around" #45, "What Goes Around (Comes Around)" #44, and "Will We Ever Come Together" #40. Although they recorded several uptempo tracks, such as "Big Apple Rock", "Walking Downtown (On A Saturday Night)", "What Goes Around (Comes Around)" and later, "Mainline" with Russell Patterson as lead singer (written by Burgess, but recorded after he left the group in 1977), they were primarily known for sweet soul ballads.

On June 1, 1974, Bascombe appeared on season three of Soul train and on PBS television show, SOUL! [10] March 1, 1972, with his group Black Ivory.

In 1976, Bascombe scored the lead role as Moses in a made for TV children's film "Turkey Treasure" which aired on WABC 7. [11] [12] In 1983, Bascombe again reprising the lead role as Moses in the WABC-TV Children's Special, "To Be A Man" which was produced by Neema Barnette and Cliff Frazier. The production won an Emmy for Best Children's Programming on April 23, 1983. Bascombe received a contributing Emmy plaque. [13] [14]

In 1995, the group reunited and returned to the stage on the Classic Soul circuit, featuring all three original members, with Stuart Bascombe doing most of the leads. They have been performing together ever since.

Bascombe is a contributing writer on Wu-Tang Clan rapper, Raekwon's single, Criminology [15] off of his 1995 hit album "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...". On October 2, 1995, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA. [16]

Recent years

Bascombe is a contributing writer on the single, "Gettin' Up" [17] [1] on Rapper and Musician Q-Tip's album, The Renaissance, [18] which was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010.

Stuart's 2021 Peabody Award Bascombe Awards.jpg
Stuart's 2021 Peabody Award

In 2011, Bascombe with his group released a Christmas single entitled "Snow", and a CD/album (which Bascombe co-produced and co-wrote three of the songs) entitled Continuum [19] on their own label, SLR Records LLC. [20]

Bascombe is a featured guest and performer in the award-winning 2018 documentary, Mr. Soul!. Bascombe and the cast of the film received Peabody Awards for Best Documentary in 2021. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] The film is based on the host and executive producer of SOUL!, Ellis Haizlip, the first "black Tonight Show." In 1968, SOUL! was launched as a local, New York broadcast. In 1969 the series rolled out nationwide on PBS, on WNET Channel 13. Haizlip had produced over 130 hour-long shows featuring a dazzling array of A-list guests. Actor Blair Underwood is the Executive Director and narrator of the film. [26] [27]

In October 2019, Bascombe along with Black Ivory's band-mate, Russell Patterson traveled to the UK and joined Leroy Burgess on stage at the famous London's Jazz Cafe. [28] [29] It was the first time that Black Ivory performed in London together. They were honored with awards to commemorate their 50th Anniversary. In addition, Black Ivory was featured in a 13-page article in the London magazine, The Soul Survivors. [30]

As of 2020, Bascombe is still writing and performing with his group Black Ivory, which are one of the only classic Soul/R&B groups from the 1970s, who are still performing with all of the original members from their first recordings. [31]

Discography

With Black Ivory

Albums

Singles

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References

  1. 1 2 "Stuart Bascombe | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Black Ivory | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Black Ivory". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Harlem's heartthrobs: Black Ivory". amsterdamnews.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Leroy Burgess | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Russell Patterson | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Black Ivory". Billboard.
  8. 1 2 3 "Black Ivory". Billboard.
  9. ↑ "Don't Turn Around Album". Allmusic. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Soul: The Young People's Show – March 1, 1972 | Soul!" . Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Television: Weekend, 28 – 29". New York Magazine. January 30, 1984. p. 93. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Black Ivory". The Pittsburgh Courier. January 8, 1977. p. 7. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Honoring Black Female Filmmakers". NPR. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  14. ↑ "89 FOR 1989 : Meet Southern California's Rising Stars". Los Angeles Times. January 1, 1989. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx – Raekwon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" . Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Gettin Up All Music Credit" . Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  18. ↑ "The Renaissance – Q-Tip | Credits | AllMusic" . Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Black Ivory Amsterdam News" . Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Continuum Album". Allmusic. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Mr. Soul! Wins 2022 Peabody Award | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert". Roger Ebert. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ "MR. SOUL". FirelightMedia.tv. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  23. ↑ "MR. SOUL! - Film Behind Ellis Haizlip and his TV Program SOUL! - to World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival". VIMOOZ. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  24. ↑ "MR. SOUL Documentary". FirelightMedia.tv. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  25. ↑ Admin, Wordpress. "Apollo Live Wire: Mr. Soul!". Apollo Theater. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Mr. SOUL! | 2018 Tribeca Film Festival". Tribeca. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  27. ↑ Linden, Sheri (December 10, 2018). "Mr. Soul!: Film Review, LAFF 2018". Hollywood Reporter. Movies. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Black Ivory Page 10 Soul Survivor" . Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Black Ivory Soul Survivor Magazine" . Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  30. ↑ "The Soul Survivors Magazine Issue 84 Page 10". Btpubs.co.uk. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  31. ↑ PERRY, BRANDON A. "They can still 'bring it: Classic groups offer excitement with original members". Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
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