The J.B.'s

The J.B.'s were the legendary supporting cast of musicians behind James Brown, earning a well-deserved reputation as the tightest, best-drilled instrumental ensemble in all of funk. The name J.B.'s is most often associated with three hornmen in particular: saxophonists Maceo Parker and Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, and trombonist Fred Wesley. As a recording entity unto themselves, the J.B.'s enjoyed a distinctly defined heyday from 1970-1975, under the musical directorship of Wesley. The group scored a couple of Top 40 R&B hits during 1971-72 with "Gimme Some More" and "Pass the Peas," then topped the R&B charts in 1973 with "Doing It to Death," a long jam with guest vocals from Brown. By 1975, Wesley and Parker left to join George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic organization, although periodic J.B.'s reunions ensued in the years to come.