Church Street Five

The Church Street Five were the house band for Legrand Records, playing on the early-'60s Frank Guida-produced hits by Gary "U.S." Bonds and Jimmy Soul. As their name implies, the Church Street Five played music rooted in the church, with joyous horns and vocal chants that sounded like a rocked-up revival meeting. The Church Street Five didn't play gospel music, however, but rock & roll, laying down the R&B-charged horns associated with rockers like Little Richard, adding organ and a groove more in tune with early-'60s soul and rock. The most crucial component of the Church St...