Curiosity can kill the cat but can also lead to good things too.
A chance purchase that was purely for Soul Direction as we just loved the tracks and saw it as another to add to the collection, but eventually that little voice "Curiosity" told us we needed to know more.So with a bit of detective work and a few phone calls later a deal was struck with Eddie and I am so happy with the outcome.Eddie Watkins has certainly lived a life of many roads, some good and some bad but has left a mark wherever he has been.
So we present to you:
Legacy was formed around 1975 by Eddie Watkins Jr who started the band.
The original members were:
Eddie Watkins Jnr.
Brenda Evans
LaMarvin McMorris
Delbert Nelson
Butch Small pla
Mark Johnson on keyboards.
Ricardo Rouse
Anita Baker the iconic vocal artist who did some vocal performances with the band.
Eddie N Watkins Jr was born & raised in Detroit MI. He started his music career playing piano for a bingo game Hall at 10 years old.
His grandmother “Big Mama” had bought him a piano at age 7 and his parents forced him to take piano lessons apparently against his will.
As it turned out they were right and by the age of 13 Eddie had switched to bass guitar joined the Musicians Union and got hired by the Jonny Trafton big band performing with seasoned local Motown musicians.
At age 17 still in high school Eddie was noticed by legendary Motown producer Norman Whitfield at a Undisputed Truth band rehearsal.
A few day later he got the call from Motown to play for Norman Whitfield’s new Temptation album Masterpiece.
Lead Vocalist Brenda Joyce Evans was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA.
After high school Brenda became a part of the group called the Delicates (Brenda, Michelle and Dale).
The manager for the Delicates was Bobby Sanders. He was known for working with local male singing groups, like the Younghearts.
Around 1969 during a performance Bobby Taylor of the Vancouvers heard the Delicates sing and invited them to open up for him at the 20 Grand, in Detroit, Michigan.
The Delicates eventually signed with Motown Records.
After signing with Motown Records; the Delicates received more opportunities to sing background in the studio for other artist.
Producer Frank Wilson influence, allowed the Delicates to sing background on some well known tracks.
Michelle left the group and Norman Whitfield decided to change their sound.
Norman brought B.J. & Billie together with Joe Pep Harris to form the group, The Undisputed Truth.
Brenda sang on the first three albums: "The Undisputed Truth", "Face to Face With the Truth" and "Law of the Land" all between 1973 & 1973.
She left The Undisputed Truth and married Eddie Watkins Jnr. and joined her husband's band Legacy from 1974-1975.
Legacy recorded very few songs under the guidance of Don Davis. The only two songs to be released were: "I Must Confess" and "Believe In Yourself" on Tortoise International Records. The other 2 songs on the same master tape were "Boy, You've Been Acting Strange" and "Celebrate (Legacy To The Bone)”.
After several conversations with Eddie Watkins who wrote all the songs he agreed to license the tracks to Soul-Direction for a 7" Vinyl Release.
Eddie is still an member of the church and is happy spreading his message and living life, and without his help this release would not have been possible.
Sleeve Note information provided by Eddie Watkins and edited by Alan Kitchener (Soul-Direction)
Tracklist
A. Boy, You've Been Acting Strange
B. Celebrate (Legacy To The Bone)
