Profile of Swamp Dogg

Career Achievements:

  • Vocalist with the Lionel Hampton Band (circa 61,62) as temporary replacement for Pinocchio James the permanent vocalist. While with Lionel Hampton, was the first vocalist to appear on the nations first Black television station's (WOOK-TV, Wash., D.C.) opening broadcast.
  • Wrote and produced television and radio commercials for DFS (1965-1975), at that time the #1 ad agency in the world. The commercials included Coca Cola's "Bright Lights Big City" (Ray Charles), Braer Rabbit Syrup (Little Milton and New York D.J. Jack Walker), River Brand Rice and Watermaid Rice (Little Milton), Mahatma Rice (JoJo Benson), International T.V. commercial for "OOO What A Tan" sun lotion (filmed in Rio), etc., etc.
  • First Black in-house staff producer for Atlantic Records (1969). Produced Patti Labelle, Commodores, C & Shells, Drifters, Precisions, Gary U.S. Bonds, Jerry Williams, etc.
  • First to produce the Commodores and first to convince Lionel Ritchie to sing.
  • Third Black Country Songwriter of The Year, "She's All I Got" (1971) and Grammy nominee.
  • First Platinum record recipient ("She's A Heartbreaker" Gene Pitney, 1968) for writing, producing and vocal arrangements.

  • Three times Grammy nominee ("She's All I Got" -Johnny Paycheck, 1971, "She Didn't Know She Kept On Talking"- Dee Dee Warwick, 1971, and "To The Other Woman, I'm The Other Woman"- Doris Duke, 1970)

  • Introduced the 1st. 12" 45 single ("Straight From My Heart" by Swamp Dogg) on the Jamie Guyden distributed Swamp Dogg Presents label in 1971.
  • Wrote, produced and recorded the first Black Blues Opera (1972) on Z.Z. Hill entitled "Blues At The Opera -Communications In Regard To Circumstances." To quote Jerry Wexler-"the best record I ever heard in my life."

Timeline:

1965

- Founded first label 87.30 Records in Miami, Florida. Company released two records on Alto Lee and Jerry Williams.

1968

- Founded Rare Bullet Records in New York, Initial release "Can't Get Over Losing You" by Donnie Elbert, record charted #50 pop, #9 Black and sold over 350,000 pieces.

1971/74

Started Mankind Record label (distributed by Nashboro). First release "She's All I Got" by Freddie North was certiffied Gold. Johnny Paycheck had a #1 Country lp as well and there were over 40 Country and Pop cover of this tune.

Additional chart sucess was achieved by Freddie North:

  • "You And Me Together Forever"
  • "Sweeter Than Sweetness"
  • "Roll Over(Play Like Our Love Ain't Dead)"

Z.Z.Hill:

  • "Faithful And True"
  • "Choking Kind"
  • "It Ain't No Use"
  • "Second Chance"

Doris Duke:

  • "If She's Your Wife Who Am I?"

Brooks O'Dell:

  • "Predicament #2"

1972

- Founded Swamp Dogg Presents (distributed by Jamie -Guyden). Released product on two artists, Swamp Dogg and Slick and the Family Brick(...a Sly Stone type group made up of Swamp Dogg, Gary U.S. Bonds, Kenny Carter, Charlie Whitehead and Johnny Northern).

1973/75

- BASF wanted to enter the Black Music business as a result, the Fungus Record label was created and charted with Irma Thomas "She'll Never Be Your Wife" and Wolfmoon "God Bless."

 

1976-84

- Recorded and produced for L.A. based Cream Records . Recorded commercials for Japan's Suntory liquor company. Recorded Michelle Williams for Englands DJM Records and promoted a European tour promoting her DJM lp.

1985/87-

Assembled the KRU-CUT label which was designed to exploit the World Class Wreckin' Cru distributed by Macola. Over 600,000 12" singles were sold through the combined sales of "Surgery", "Juice" and "Lovers Before Friends." The lp "World Class" sold over 200,000 units.

Through the Wreckin' Cru, Swamp Dogg gave Dr. Dre, D.J. Yella and Easy-E, collectively known today as N.W.A. the chance to perfect their now indisputable craft.

1988/92

Established S.D.E.G. (Swamp Dogg Entertainment Group) and distribution deals were set with Ichiban for the U.S., Sonet(Europe), Seoul Records(Korea), Blues Interaction(Japan), David Gresham(South Africa), Laser(Australia), Warner (Mexico), Warner(Brazil) and Trend(Canada). Albums were released on Bobby McClure(charted), Hustle, Z & Cool P, Andre Williams, Daddy D(charted), Swamp Dogg and M.C.Breed. The latter achieved Platinum album status and Gold single status in the U.S. (Ain't No Future In Yo Frontin').

The 1992 Billboard NARM and Independently Distributed Music Charts ranked S.D.E.G. as follows:

  • Top Independent Pop Album- #25
  • Top Independent Single label- #8
  • Top Independent Pop album label - #13
  • Top Independent Pop single - #10
  • Top Independent R & B Album - #8
  • Top Independent R & B album label - #9
  • Top Independent Rap Singles - #6 & #20
  • Top Independent Rap Singles Label - #6

 

1993-97

Through diligence, revamping and focus S.D.E.G. has continued to thrive due to its vast copyright holdings in Jerry Williams Music(e.g.,"Don't Take Her She's All I Got" by Tracy Byrd on MCA), it's oldie catalog which consists of over four hundred album Masters and three hundred artists and it's video and film catalog which contains over two hundred movies, cartoons and "how to's." Swamp Dogg is included on a Punk compilation entitled "Generation I-A Punk Look At Human Rights" on the EMI distributed Ark 21 label. The cut is a new punk recorded and mixed version of his "Synthetic World" classic with the UK Punk band Moondogg. On the celluloid front, "Can't You Hear Me Singing" a full length film documentary produced by Lemming Film(Holland) and Dutch Filmmaker, Walter Stokman stars Swamp Dogg and Ike Turner with Music by Swamp Dogg who also has the worldwide rights to the soundtrack. The film was the hit of the Dutch Film Festival.

July 11th of 97', the Dogg made a most impressive concert appearance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Hague, Netherlands. Swamp also sung a special ten minute version of "Synthetic World" over the ending credits in the Joe Eszterhas directed, Ben Myron produced " An Alan Smithee Film (Burn Hollywood Burn)".

1998-1999

The Dogg appeared in concert at the Poretta Soul Festival (Poretta ,Italy) and several sold out venues in Manchester and surrounding northern England.

November 99' found the Dogg performing for the first time in twenty seven years in Trinidad, where he drew a record crowd at the Mobs 2, outdoor venue. He's scheduled to appear again in 2000 after Carnival as well as New Years Eve. 2000

When the new century's doors swung open, it found Swamp Dogg in the multiplatinum Kid Rock album, "Devil Without A Cause" as the publisher, writer and vocalist on "I Got One for Ya". On the same note....his publishing and writing abilities are being exhibited in the new album that's shipping platinum, by rapper Fifty Cents on Sony.

February found Swamp in Trinidad producing his latest album("Re-Invention of Swamp Dogg"), in which the music is all calypso and dedicated to the memory of Lord Kitchener. This masterpiece is schedule to ship in the U.S., Carribean and South America on 4/28/00.

In addition to the calypso album, the "Little Jerry Williams Anthology(54'-69')" cd is scheduled for shipping on 4/28 also.

"Can I Change my Mind", the new runaway Billy Price album is just another new millenium offering from Swamp as a producer, arranger and writer.

Several soundtracks, a new alliance with his publishing administrator emeritus, Bug Music, an alliance with Helene Blue Music for special projects, new license deals for his S.D.E.G., record label throughout the world and record releases on his old and new compositions by Ty Herndon, Matt King, Travis Tritt, Brahim(EMI artist presently representing Swamp on the French charts with "Personne n'est Parfait"), Yankee Grey and a smash street rap album on S.D.E.G.(dist.by Groundlevel) by Reality is just a dram of the projects and activity that this workaholic has happening at this time(4/00).

Copyright 2001 SDEG