Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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WAR

Latin-rock fusion band formed in Long Beach CA '59: Lonnie Jordan, keyboards (b 21 Nov. '48, San Diego); Harold Brown, drums (b 17 March '46, Long Beach); Howard Scott, guitar (b 15 March '46, San Pedro); Peter Rosen on bass (d '69), replaced by Morris "B.B.' Dickerson (b 3 Aug. '49, Torrence), replaced later by Luther Rabb; Charles Miller, sax and flute (b 2 June '39, Olathe KS); "Papa Dee' Allen, percussion (b 18 July '31, Wilmington DE). They gigged locally, were discovered by producer Jerry Goldstein, who put them up for job as Eric Burdon backing band; Lee Oscar came with Burdon, joined on harmonica (b 24 March '46, Copenhagen); they were successful under Burdon's name on albums Eric Burdon Declares {War} and double The Black-Man's Burdon '70, left him to make 15 hit LPs, singles incl. six in top 10 '72-6 on United Artists, '77 on MCA, '82 on RCA, all prod. by Goldstein. Albums incl. All Day Music '71, no. 1 The World Is A Ghetto '72, Why Can't We Be Friends? '75, several more. Many reissues on Avenue and Rhino CDs, some under Burdon's name.