Eboni Band

As its name suggests, Eboni Band was an ersatz supergroup. Pulled together by arranger and bassist Greg Middleton (The Checkmates Ltd, Marlena Shaw) at the suggestion of Marvin Gaye producer Art Stewart, the musicians comprised of the four musical groups signed to the Ivory Coast-based Eboni Records (Mamadou Doumbia, Gun Morgan, Amadou Doukoure & Abdoulaye Soumare and Lamine Konte & Fode Drame) alongside a handpicked collection of mint Motown session men, including James Brown's bandleader Fred Wesley, Nolan Smith (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder), Ernie Fields, Jr (Rick James, Marvin Gaye), and Quentin Dennard (Aretha Franklin, BB King).