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Little Axe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Skip McDonald" redirects here. For the editor, see Skip Macdonald.
For the American gospel singer nicknamed Little Axe, see Willmer Broadnax.
Little Axe
Background information
Birth nameBernard Alexander
Also known asSkip McDonald
BornSeptember 1949 (age 75)
Dayton, Ohio, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Songwriter
Record producer
Musical string arranger
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1973–present
LabelsSugar Hill, Wired, Real World, Fat Possum, Okeh

Skip McDonald (born Bernard Alexander, September 1949)[3][4] is an American musician who also performs under the stage name Little Axe.

Career

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Early career

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Grounded in blues music learned from his father, a steel worker who played blues guitar at weekends,[4] McDonald spent his early days playing jazz, doo-wop, and gospel, and eventually relocated to New York City as a teenager with his band of friends, called The Entertainers.[2][3]

McDonald formed the group Wood Brass & Steel in 1973 with bass guitarist Doug Wimbish and drummer Harold Sargent. The group recorded two albums before their 1979 breakup.[3] He then became part of the house band for Sugarhill Records and appeared as a session player on many early rap recordings, including "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.

Post-Sugarhill

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After leaving Sugarhill, McDonald, Wimbish, and drummer Keith LeBlanc began working with Adrian Sherwood, and eventually formed the trio into the industrial/dub group Tackhead, initially fronted by Gary Clail and later Bernard Fowler.[3] McDonald also collaborated with Sherwood on other projects, including albums by African Head Charge and Mark Stewart.[2]

In the 1990s, McDonald assumed the moniker "Little Axe" and began moving from hip hop to a form of blues that drew from an array of musical influences, including dub, R&B, gospel, and jazz.[2] He has been working steadily as a studio musician, recording both his own blues albums, and continuing to appear as a guest act on other artists' albums. His most recent albums have been released on Real World Records. Alan Glen is often featured on harmonica on these albums.[3]

In 2009, he collaborated with Mauritanian musician Daby Touré to produce an album, Call My Name.

As of 2016, he still tours and gigs regularly, has a loyal following and is in regular demand for session work as a guitarist.

Discography

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With Will Downing

  • Will Downing (Island Records, 1988)
  • Come Together as One (Island Records, 1989)
  • A Dream Fulfilled (Island Records, 1991)

With Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

  • Talk It Up (Tell Everybody) (Philly World, 1984)

With Melba Moore

With Sinéad O'Connor

With The O'Jays

  • Love And More (Philadelphia Records, 1984)

With Brenda K. Starr

With Candi Staton

  • Nightlites (Sugar Hill Records, 1982)

With Donna Summer

References

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  1. ^ a b John Bush. "Tackhead - Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography". AllMusic.
  2. ^ a b c d Jason Ankeny. "Little Axe - Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography". AllMusic.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Little Axe Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (15 July 2010). "Little Axe: from blues to hip-hop and back". The Guardian.
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