NORMAN CONNORS

Connors became interested in jazz as a child when he began to play drums, once sitting in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane performance he attended while in middle school. Connors studied music at Temple University and Juilliard.

His first recording was on Archie Shepp's 1967 release, Magic of JuJu. He played with Pharaoh Sanders for the next few years until signing with Cobblestone Records in 1972 and releasing his first record as a bandleader. He went on to front some great jazz recordings with Carlos Garnett, Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Herbie Hancock such as "Love From the Sun" on Buddah records..

Connors began to focus more on R&B material in the mid 1970s after signing with Buddah Records. He scored several US hits with songs featuring guest vocalists such as Michael Henderson, Jean Carn, and Phyllis Hyman. The most successful of these was "You Are My Starship" (#4 R&B, #27 Pop), featuring Henderson in 1976, while "Valentine Love", his first chart success, made #10 R&B in 1975, with vocals from Henderson and Jean Carn. Dee Dee Bridgewater also performed with him on the jazz album "Love from the Sun". He has also produced recordings for various artists, including collaborators like Jean Carn, Phyllis Hyman, Al Johnson, and saxophonist Marion Meadows.

NORMAN CONNORS - MR C 1981

RONNIE LAWS

Classic Ronnie Laws track which was sampled by "Doom". Respect to the Jazz Funk era in music. There's a new "Jazz Funk" Scene brewing up, and the new bands are heavy. Before we get into all the pay respects to the originals...

MR. FIVES - ACID JAZZ, JAZZ FUNK & BEYOND SINCE THE 90s

A TASTE OF SOUL; ITS THE REAL THING COMING JUNE 4TH (SF)

In 1991, five UC Berkeley graduates Creighton Cole, Kirk Harper, Michael O’Connor, Eric Roth and Gerry Villareal established a nightclub at 30 Rose Street, San Francisco named Mr. Fives. Their mission was to provide a positive clubhouse for events from plays, film screenings, receptions, to live performances and massive dance parties. To them and their patrons the details mattered, the message mattered and the music mattered. “Positive never negative”, from Gang Starr was their mantra.

All five were highly influenced by the 80s UK Mod Movement, politically progressive and shared an appreciation for modern design, art, film and music. Their ethnic make-up and backgrounds couldn’t be more diverse yet they came together through their passion for music, in particular, black music from the 60s through the 90s. They understood the historical continuum of the music, appreciated the undervalued artist or song and wanted to share it with people. Best of all their timing was right. In the late 80s and early 90s, Acid Jazz, Soul, Reggae & House were hitting on all cylinders and many refer to this period as a Golden Age for many of those genres—Mr. Fives was smack dab in the middle.

Looking back over 20 years, Mr. Fives means many different things to many people and evokes many fond memories. For those who were fortunate to experience the era first hand, they all agree that what set Mr. Fives apart from other venues was the diversity of the people, the dynamic underground black music, the tight knit sense of community and life-long friendships that were forged during that time.

Today we offer an all too brief snapshot of that special place & time...Mr. Fives!

MR. FIVES MIX

Selection and mix by The Selecter DJ Kirk and DJ Gerry V.