the Movin', Soothin', and Stone Funk Band / Joy Incoporated / Melvin Brown and James Matthews / Hamilton Movement

Cincinnati/Dayton/Hamilton, 1971-1978

Performing in Akron, November 1972

Movin, Soothin' and Stone Funk were led by singers Melvin Brown and James Matthews, who had the nicknames Movin' and Soothin', respectively. They were both from Cincinnati. They were backed by musicians from the Dayton, Hamilton and Cincinnati areas, the Stone Funk part of their moniker. 

The band started in 1971, or 1968, depending on which source is used. The band members included Fred Hill (bass), Duane Wright(?) (drums), Marv Coleman, and "King" Solomon Prather. Hill and Prather were from Dayton, Wright from Cincinnati, and Coleman from Hamilton.

The band got steady gigs, and quickly got into recording. The first couple records were released on the Philmore Sound label from Cincinnati. Philmore Sound had connections to the Phelps brothers and the GAR label. 

Around 1973-4 the band was performing in Indianapolis and hired on with a management/booking company from there, Pure/Soul productions, run by Dick Melvin. They changed their name to the Hamilton Movement - partially because of their relationship to the Ohio city by that name. Over time some of the Ohio members left and the group replaced them with Indy locals.

As the Hamilton Movement, they recorded 4 45s for their management's label, Look-Out. The records were dated from 1975-7. All the 45s are good, but their second 45 "She's Gone" has become a legendary 45 among the rare soul collector scene. 

During this time, Melvin Brown and James Matthews seemed to have been a couple of the members who left, as they returned to recording under their names with a 1976 release on Philmore Sound. This record has a Dayton address, and like the Hamilton Movement from the same year, has become a sought after collector item.

In 1978 Melvin Brown, on his own, recorded one side of a split 45 for the KB's Enterprise label of Cincy. Melvin was back with another 45 in 1980 on Philmore Sound, the last chronological release on the label. The PS label had a Hamilton PO Box and was produced by Rich Goldman. 

The second 45 "Cryin' For Your Love" was also issued credited to Joy Incorporated, our assumption is that was a later pressing done as trial band name change.

King Solomon Prather had previously been a member of Stone-Coal-White.

Discography:
That's The Way Love Is / (Medley) Try A Little Tenderness - Philmore Sound no # (Rite master 30219/29), 1972
Cryin' For Your Love / Dealin' With A Feelin' - Philmore Sound no # (Rite master 30953/4), 1973
Send Me Some Love / Love Circuit - Look-Out no # (QCA master 521-16), Feb 1975
We're Gonna Party / She's Gone - Look-Out 007, 1976
Your Love (Brings Out The Man In Me) / Having A Set (At The Disco) - Look-Out 008, 1976
(Melvin Brown and James Matthews) - Love Stormy Weather / Soul Man - Philmore Sound no #, July 1976
Love Man (That's What I Long To Be) / We're Gonna Party - Look-Out 009, 1977
(Melvin Brown) - I Know / I'm A Fool To Care - Philmore Sound no # (Artists pressing  number 800130), Jan 1980