The Kashmere Stage Band was a Houston high school band from 1968-1978. They were led my a legendary band leader, teacher and all around hero named Conrad Johnson. From 1969 to 1977, Johnson's stage bands won 42 of 46 local, regional and national competitions. All the more impressive is the fact that the high school itself is in a really rough area of Houston and also had to fight through discrimination to even get into band competitions. The footage above is some reunited members of KSB performing in Dallas April, 2010. The first time you hear recordings of them from over 35 years ago you will find it unbelievable that the sound you are hearing could be coming from teenage kids.
There were three records released in the 1970s under the Kashmere Stage Band name. Though the records are near impossible to find some tracks have been re-released and they are all funky as a mother. Some of the old band members got together for a reunion in 2008 and played for their old teacher on his 92nd birthday to honor him. He enjoyed the concert and went home and died. People say he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. There is an amazing documentary that is coming out about Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band in 2011. It's called Thunder Soul and it's already been shown in select cities. Here is the man behind the documentary speaking about the film and how it came to be: Mark Landsman. Here is an article called The Thunder Rolls about the documentary KSB's history. Here is where you can buy their best album by the same name as the film: Thunder Soul. My personal favorite off that album is the cover they do of Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers. I just mixed it into my Ain't No Sunshine Medley I just posted on mixcrate, it's the second song on the medley.
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