Wayne Henderson (September 24, 1939 – April 5, 2014) – I Love You So Much (1973)

A beautiful funky slow jam written and produced by Jazz Crusaders co-founder Henderson for the self-titled debut LP by Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign.

Watch full video on YouTube.

The great trombonist and producer Wayne Henderson co-founded the Jazz Crusaders in 1960, along with pianist Joe Sample, tenor sax player Wilton Felder, and drummer Nesbert "Stix" Hooper.

After releasing nearly 30 albums with the group, he left in 1976 to focus on producing other artists and his own solo albums.

Henderson with Roy Ayers at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia

While he was still with the Crusaders (who shortened their name in 1971 to bring a wider audience to their music), Henderson wrote and produced the funky, beautiful love jam “I Love You So Much” for the self-titled debut LP by Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign (ERFC), released on Uni Records/MCA in 1973.

It was the first of two albums put out by the Indianapolis-based funk group. ERFC followed it up with Watchin' You, Watchin' Me (1976) on Chi-Sound Records, which was produced by Carl Davis.

The members of ERFC in 1973 were Lester Lamonte Johnson on bass, drummer Matthew R. Watson, Sean Hendrick on flugelhorn, guitarist Master Boobie Townsend, John "Ricky" Jackson on keyboards, H. Leon Miles on tenor sax, and lead vocalists Pam Tanner and Anthony J. Roberts.

More info:

“Wayne Henderson, a Founder of the Jazz Crusaders, Dies at 74,” New York Times, April 9, 2014

“Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign Pt. 1,” three-part radio special, WFYI, Indianapolis, IN, March 18, 2022

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