Mitch McDowell (June 29, 1954 – January 21, 1992) – L.R.J. Pop (1980)
This funk bomb was produced, written, and arranged by the unsung bassist and songwriter who led General Caine.
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Mitch McDowell was a funk bassist, singer/songwriter and bandleader who is best known for his 1986 underground hit “Crack Killed Applejack,” released by his group General Caine.
Born in San Bernardino, California, McDowell attended military school. There he met the officer he would later name himself (and his group) in tribute to, because General Caine was supportive of his dreams to become a musician.
After graduating, he and Morris Dewayne (aka B.B.) Dickerson of War put together a new funk group called Booty People. Their debut single dropped in 1976, the funky Bicentennial-themed jam “Spirit of ‘76” b/w “Anyway I’m Busted.” McDowell and Dickerson co-wrote both sides with fellow group members Joe Phillips, Wyman Goodloe, and Robert Palmer, plus songwriter Richard Le Mon Smith.
The following year they released their self-titled debut LP on ABC Records, produced by Dickerson. One of its highlights was the stellar funk jam “To The One I Love,” co-written by McDowell, Dickerson, and the rest of the group.
By 1980 the group had changed their name to General Caine and released their second album Get Down Attack on the small, San Bernardino-based label Groove Time Records. McDowell produced the album and wrote and arranged every song but one. It was full of funk bombs like its title track, the funky “Shake,” the upbeat jam “Jungle Music” and the popping and locking anthem “L.R.J. Pop.”
As one helpful YouTube commenter explained, the track’s initials stood for:
“Lee Rogers Jr. Pop, named after ‘Leroy Strickland’ a San Bernardino DJ at College radio station 89.1 KUOR-FM in Redlands / Inland Empire back in the early 80's. Every weekend, KUOR laid TRUE R&B and funk down.”
A few years later, they put out the electro-flavored novelty single “Where’s The Beef?” (1984) on Capitol Records, inspired by the Wendy’s commercial that made its title a catch-phrase. It was co-written and produced by McDowell.
In 1986, after altering the group’s name slightly to General Kane, they scored their biggest-ever hit with “Crack Killed Applejack.” It was a hard-hitting message song about the reality of the crack epidemic then sweeping the nation’s cities and a bona fide underground hit that reached #12 on the R&B charts despite being banned from radio airplay.
Tragically, after leaving the music business and setting up shop as a bail bondsman in San Bernardino, McDowell and his nephew were killed in early 1992 during a robbery at their offices. He was only 37 at the time.
Happy 70th Heavenly Birthday to the great Mitch McDowell.
Further info:
“Mitch McDowell, Singer Turned Bail Bondsman, Is Slain,” obituary, Los Angeles Times, January 24, 1992.
“Mitch McDowell, alias General Caine (Kane),” funk-o-logy.com, November 8, 2011.
#soul #funk #R&B #BootyPeople #GeneralCaine #MitchMcDowell