Sinbad’s Summer Jams are historic.
are video history makers for generations to come.
By Timothy Cox
Editor-N-Chief
Seventies Soul Report.com
BALTIMORE, MD — During many hot summer nights in
the mid-1990s, Sinbad, the famous comedian, produced
several RnB-Funk-related musical concerts that today, are
considered Black History Musical moments in time, and
importantly, are tributes to many 1970s legendary bands.
Thanks to his connections with cable TV’s Home Box
Office (HBO) network, the world was able to witness
several world-renowned bands and artists in the tropical
setting of the West Indies.
The real treasure is that Sinbad aka David Atkins, booked
several of these bands just before their longevity and
popularity was coming to an end.
For instance, he booked the Ohio Players, while Leroy
Bonner aka "Sugarfoot" was still alive, though he did not
play his signature double-neck guitar at the Sinbad
concert.
The GAP Band still featured all three Wilson brothers;
Charlie, Robert and Ronnie. Only Charlie is still alive
now. So, their appearance is very special. And, it was
prior to the solo-star rise of Charlie when he eventually
became "Uncle" Charlie and a solo showstopper on his
own right, these days.
The Isley Brothers 1997 appearance on a Sinbad jam, was
special mainly because lead singer Ronnie Isley, was a
younger version of his 2025 self. No sitting onstage, a
still-healthy older performer — ready to slay his
audiences. He, along with his sole remaining Isley
Brother – guitarist Ernie Isley, both handled their business
on that show – and today, are still offering splendid live
performances void of Ronnie’s ex-wife and background
singer, Angela Winbush.
During a brief five-year period, from 1995 to 2000,
Sinbad’s Summer Jams featured a lineup of 1970s soul
music legends, including Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys
Knight, The O'Jays featuring Eddie Levert and Walter
Williams, Average White Band, WAR, Al Green and
Kool & The Gang.
Al Green featured his now-deceased music director,
guitarist Larry Lee, while Kool’s Gang still featured four
original members who are now deceased.
Drummer/keyboardist George "Funky George" Brown,
Ronald (Khalis Bayaan) Bell, Dennis "DT" Thomas and
Claydes Charles Smith. Trombonist Clifford Adams died
in 2015.
Lead singer James JT Taylor also made a temporary
special appearance during this Jamaica show. Fortunately,
he’s still with us.
Sinbad also made the timely decision to request
guitarist/showman Roger Troutman, leader of ZAPP.
Roger and ZAPP performed at the July 1998 Sinbad jam
in Aruba. Less than a year later, on April 25, 1999, Roger
was fatally shot by his older brother Larry Troutman in
their hometown of Dayton, Ohio.
The first Summer Jam also featured a healthy soul man
named Frankie Beverly, many moons before he would
suffer from signs of dementia, and eventually die in 2024.
Sinbad’s choice to hire Earth Wind & Fire was timely.
Although Maurice White was already a non-performer
with the band, suffering from early onset Parkinson’s
disease, guitarist/lead singer Sheldon Reynolds did
perform on that show, though he’s now deceased.
The Whispers were still a quartet, with Nicholas
Caldwell, performing prior to his unexpected death. Their
choreographer for most of their careers was Caldwell, the
tall, debonair grey-bearded, co-founding group member.
Current existing original Whispers members Walter Scott,
Wallace Scott and Leveil Degree, concur that Caldwell is
irreplaceable and they continue to perform as an upfront
trio, with a backing band featuring their longtime exciting
rhythmic drummer, Mr. Richie Auguon of Oakland,
California.
The Temptations, featuring the only original member and
founder Otis Williams, made a special appearance and
surprisingly moved the youthful crowd.
And so did Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame. He sang an
upbeat special rendition of his classic platinum offering,
“Hold On I’m Comin.” He died in January 2025 of
complications from surgery. And The Barkays, kept up
the Memphis tradition with their surviving bassist James
Alexander from the Otis Redding tragic flight of
December 1967. And, lest we forget, the classic
performance of Isaac Hayes when he brought the house
down with his energetic live version of “Shaft,” featuring
the now deceased wah-wah guitarman, Charles “Skip”
Pitts. Ike aka the “Black Moses,” died on August 10,
2008. Pitts died in May 2012.
Sinbad made a special tribute to El DeBarge and his three
brothers, when the family band displayed their high
falsetto vocal ranges and explicit family vocal harmonies.
But it was Emilio Castillo’s Tower of Power band with
that brilliant brass section in Jamaica, 1996, that set souls
on fire. Special that night was the late Francisco “Rocco”
Prestia on bass guitar and the now-retired drummer,
David Garibaldi holding down the fat-back, greasy
grooves on “What Is Hip,” so special to the TOP
foundation.
Then Lakeside featuring their former great lead singer,
Mark E. Wood – showed the world how the soul brothers
from Dayton, Ohio really gets down. Wood is no longer
with the original band – unfortunately. That’s why their
performance is so special, these days, for historical
purposes.
But don’t get it twisted, there were several women artists
who turned it out at Sinbad’s five shows. The following
list says it all:
Gladys Knight, 1995
Teena Marie (1995)
Natalie Cole, 1996
Evelyn "Champagne" King (1997)
The Emotions (1998)
Stephanie Mills (1998)
Cheryl Lynn (1998)
Chaka Khan (1999)
This writer made several recent attempts to interview
Sinbad at this NYC offices, to get a personal perspective
of how he conceived these special shows.
As of mid-2025, although he’s certainly progressed in
major proportions, it appears Sinbad is still recuperating
from what was reportedly a major debilitating stroke, a
couple years ago.
From all of his several fans, we wish the talented
comedian and concert promoter/producer, the best of
continued health and very importantly – a major
THANKS, for creating the historic Sinbad Summer Jams
so generations of music fans can forever utilize simple
computer/cell phone keystrokes, to access valuable Black
Music Historical performances, by many of our American
Music Masters.
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