US media sources are reporting the “recent” death of HARRY WILLIAMS – the last original member still performing with BLOODSTONE. No other details are forthcoming.
Bloodstone were formed in Kansas City in 1962 as “the Sinceres”. By the time the band re-located to the UK, they were called Bloodstone. The lineup at that time was Charles McCormick, Willis Draffen Jr., Charles Love, Harry Williams, Roger Durham and Eddie Summers. Williams was the band’s percussionist.
Signed to the Decca label, their first LP was an eponymous set; the follow up, ‘Natural High’ (produced by British blues and soul entrepreneur, Mike Vernon) achieved Gold status with the title track becoming a huge hit. The sweet soul sound of that track wasn’t totally typical of Bloodstone, who, as a self-contained unit, usually delivered a tougher soul and funk sound with a rock undercurrent. Amongst the band’s other best known song are ‘Never Let You Go’, ‘Outside Woman’ and ‘My Little Lady’.
Bloodstone continued to record into the mid-1980s and different iterations of the band worked the tribute/oldies circuit. Most recently the “real” Bloodstone” worked as a trio – Harry Williams, Charles McCaleb and Donald Brown with Williams performing seated indicating that he wasn’t in the best of health. Bloodstone received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National R&B Music Society in 2019.
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