George Patterson, Jr. (February 19, 1942 – May 18, 2003) – Sacrifice (1974)
Midnight Movers Unlimited's 1974 soul/funk gem Sacrifice was co-written, arranged and co-produced by Patterson, off their superb Follow The Wind LP.
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George Patterson, Jr. was a brilliant saxophonist/arranger who arranged the Isley Brothers’ classic “It’s Your Thing.” He was musical director for Midnight Movers Unlimited, Wilson Pickett’s backing band, who released two albums of their own.
George Earl “Dimp Paco” Patterson, Jr. was born in Chicago. He learned to play the clarinet and saxophone in high school, and after graduating began playing as a sideman with numerous R&B and jazz artists around the city including Cicero Blake, Mary Wells and Betty Everett. He was hired as a studio musician by Chess Records’ A&R Director Billy Davis, and there he worked with Chess artists Etta James, Minnie Riperton, Chuck Berry, and many others.
Patterson formed a jazz band in the mid-sixties called The Jazz Interpreters, featuring Thomas “Tom Tom 84” Washington on piano. They were signed by Chess and released their debut album The Knack (1965) on Cadet Records. The group toured with Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson, Sonny Rollins, and Lou Donaldson. Patterson took a job as a bandleader with Gene Chandler before being hired as Wilson Pickett’s musical director.
He led Pickett’s backing band from 1967-1970, whose name was inspired by his classic song “I'm a Midnight Mover.” They released their first solo album in 1969, Do It In The Road.
In 1970, Patterson left Pickett and brought the band to New York City where they arranged the Isley Brothers’ classic “It’s Your Thing.” He became a staff arranger and musical director with T-Neck and Buddah Records and helped create several more hits for the Isleys.
The Midnight Movers’ second and final studio album was their masterpiece. Follow The Wind was released in 1974 on Buddah Records, now credited to Midnight Movers, Unltd. It featured the soul/funk gem “Sacrifice,” co-written, arranged and co-produced by Patterson, who was also executive producer. The album was full of other phenomenal tracks, like the ultra-funky jam “Can’t Stand The Heat” and the beautiful love song “Lost For Words.” The title track was a regional hit on the East Coast.
The members of MMU on Follow The Wind were Patterson (on alto sax, tenor sax, keyboards and flute), Curtis Pope (on trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica and lead vocals), Bernard Wills (on rhythm guitar and lead vocals), Blake Hinds (electric bass), Jack Philpot (on baritone sax, organ and percussion), Raymond Patterson (lead guitar), and Dave Williams (drums).
Additional guest musicians were Charles “Skip” Pitts on rhythm guitar (whose wah pedal guitar gave Isaac Hayes' classic "Theme from Shaft" its unforgettable sound), George Moreland (drums), Ernest Smith (on bass and rhythm guitar), Johnny Starr (guitar and vocals), Robin Kenyatta (flute), John Mosley (trumpet and flute), Earl McIntyre (bass bone), Daniel Ben Zebulon (congas) and Jimmy Godwin (on rhythm guitar and bass).
#soul #funk #unsung #WilsonPickett #GeorgePattersonJr