Willie Feaster

Guitarist and songwriter Willie Feaster was the leader of Willie and the Mighty Magnificents, a New York-based R&B/funk show band who, in addition to releasing several albums and singles on their own, served as a studio band for a number of East Coast artists. Boasting an eclectic style and impressive instrumental chops, the group made their debut in 1968 with the single "Check It Baby," and their first album, On Scene '70, followed two years later. While the group didn't score any major hits, songs such as "Funky Eight Corners," "Play That Funky Beat," and "Make It Funky" would later become favorites of R&B collectors, while the group's repertoire became popular with DJs on the lookout for sample-worthy grooves. Just as significantly, Feaster and his group were recruited by Sylvia Robinson and her All Platinum label as session musicians, backing up a number of their artists including the Moments, who scored a major hit with "Love on a Two Way Street" with Feaster and his band providing the accompaniment. After cutting a second album, Very Soulful, Willie and the Mighty Magnificents changed their name to Willie and West before fading out in the '80s.