It’s the best-known sample of all time. It might be the most-heard six seconds of sound in modern recording.
But before it became the “Amen break,” the signature riff was part of The Winstons’ song “Amen, Brother.”
And so, how much did the artists who actually produced the original sound earn from their “success”? Well, that’ll be … nothing, apart from the original revenues from the 1969 release. Nothing in royalties from its use … well, seemingly everywhere. (N.W.A.? Oasis? Futurama? Check.)
Zip. Zero. The drummer, Gregory Coleman, died homeless in 2006. Richard L. Spencer, the vocalist and sax player you hear on the classic cut, owned the copyright but never got a cent from its reuse. Forget Searching for Sugarman. BBC tracking down Richard L. Spencer (picture, top) may be the even bigger story of a lost and unsung musical hero, all but disappearing after 1971.
So now, one crowd funding project wants to right the wrong, doing through donations what the international intellectual property system couldn’t do for an independent musician.
The project is the brainchild of Martyn Webster, a 42-year old DJ from the UK. Webster fits the MO of the whole Amen break-sampling scene, making electro, hiphop, and rap in the 80s and 90s. So, he’s just a DJ who loved this musical gesture and wanted to give back. The plan: raise money, then give it to Richard L. Spencer to make up for years and years of success given to other artists.
Mr. Webster writes, simply:
If you have ever written or sold any music with the amen break, or even just enjoyed one of the countless hundreds and hundreds of tunes that contain it over various genres and styles of music, please donate towards the good cause of the worldwide music community giving something back to the man behind the legendary breakbeat.
That message seems to have resonated. In just five days, the project has blasted past its original £1,000 target to net a whopping £10,529 in funds – not bad for what amounts to little more than “passing the hat.” It’s a perfect case in which small funds add up: 940 people contributed to that big number. And it’s getting attention; I saw it via Facebook on a German blog, but the mighty Rolling Stone has also taken notice.
There’s even one bloke who has a tattoo of the sample on his arm (as posted to the project’s Facebook group, in solidarity – I wonder if anyone ever recognizes it):
Here’s the immortal original song, worth hearing in its entirety:
And the sample, as you’ve likely heard it:
And a 20-minute documentary on the whole affair:
Really, someone should take a 6-second sample from the narration of that film. Just sayin’.
“Can I get an Amen, brother?” indeed. No more fitting headline for crowd-funding.
Now, next question – how are we going to go beyond the grave and give back to Jester Hairston, composer of “Amen”?
Donate, too, if you like:
The Winstons Amen Breakbeat Gesture [gofundme]
And join the project on Facebook (actually, surprised the Facebook page hasn’t gotten more attention yet – will watch that count after this story):
https://www.facebook.com/amenbreakbeat
Postlog: As several people have pointed out to me, there is a fairly essential flaw in the goals of this project which none of the coverage so far seems to have addressed. The essence of the “Amen break” isn’t the song – it’s the drum solo. You can’t hear Richard L. Spencer (sax and vocals) in the actual sample. Yes, technically speaking, Richard L. Spencer owns the copyright – but copyright law here has utterly failed to be meaningful in the usage of the sample, let alone enforceable. I wonder why, for instance, the crowd-funding project doesn’t at least split the money between Mr. Spencer and Gregory Coleman’s heirs. Under copyright law, the publishing rights to a sample would absolutely belong to Mr. Spencer; Mr. Coleman’s role as a drummer was work-for-hire and he would never get royalties unless he had a writing credit. But we’re not talking about copyright laws or royalties; this is just a donation project. I’ve asked the project for their take on this, even though I think that it’s still admirable to give money to the surviving member of The Winstons.
Answer: for now, it all goes to Richard. One issue is, he’s the one they can find. Martyn explains:
As above, all money raised will go to Richard.
Some people have said some should go to the daughter and step-daughter of Gregory Coleman (the drummer).
If we are able to get in contact with them then it is definitely something that could also happen.
That conversation for now remains between Martyn and Richard.
Great stuff. Contributing today. It’s the least I can do considering I’ve used this loop a couple of times. It’s the least any of us can do. Thanks for sharing this, Peter.
Also, I will simply start re-posting this story whenever I run into the next freetard who starts spewing the usual BS mantra:
“Music and recordings should be free – just work for free for a while and you’ll get EXPOSURE, man!”
A cautionary tale about musicians’ rights if there ever was one.
Great stuff. Contributing today. It’s the least I can do considering I’ve used this loop a couple of times. It’s the least any of us can do. Thanks for sharing this, Peter.
Also, I will simply start re-posting this story whenever I run into the next freetard who starts spewing the usual BS mantra:
“Music and recordings should be free – just work for free for a while and you’ll get EXPOSURE, man!”
A cautionary tale about musicians’ rights if there ever was one.
Great stuff. Contributing today. It’s the least I can do considering I’ve used this loop a couple of times. It’s the least any of us can do. Thanks for sharing this, Peter.
Also, I will simply start re-posting this story whenever I run into the next freetard who starts spewing the usual BS mantra:
“Music and recordings should be free – just work for free for a while and you’ll get EXPOSURE, man!”
A cautionary tale about musicians’ rights if there ever was one.
Also, here is the correct link for the BBC story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hb618
Also, here is the correct link for the BBC story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hb618
Also, here is the correct link for the BBC story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hb618
an awesome , informative recording.. thank you
an awesome , informative recording.. thank you
an awesome , informative recording.. thank you
The audio on the BBC page didn’t work for me but I found it on youtube (and the uploaded added graphics & pics of the participants): http://youtu.be/BIBU6lEs0u4
The audio on the BBC page didn’t work for me but I found it on youtube (and the uploaded added graphics & pics of the participants): http://youtu.be/BIBU6lEs0u4
The audio on the BBC page didn’t work for me but I found it on youtube (and the uploaded added graphics & pics of the participants): http://youtu.be/BIBU6lEs0u4
Awesome! You should put the donate link at the top of the article.
http://www.gofundme.com/amenbrother
Awesome! You should put the donate link at the top of the article.
http://www.gofundme.com/amenbrother
Awesome! You should put the donate link at the top of the article.
http://www.gofundme.com/amenbrother
So when are Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and all the other rappers that made millions off that sample going to be donating?
Scraping by at an Apple board meeting. 🙂
Would be solid if Dre showed up and put $50k down but I doubt he wants to start down a path of publicly paying for the mountain of unlicensed samples in his past. he could do it anonymously though!
So when are Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and all the other rappers that made millions off that sample going to be donating?
Scraping by at an Apple board meeting. 🙂
Would be solid if Dre showed up and put $50k down but I doubt he wants to start down a path of publicly paying for the mountain of unlicensed samples in his past. he could do it anonymously though!
So when are Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and all the other rappers that made millions off that sample going to be donating?
Scraping by at an Apple board meeting. 🙂
Would be solid if Dre showed up and put $50k down but I doubt he wants to start down a path of publicly paying for the mountain of unlicensed samples in his past. he could do it anonymously though!
Pulled from Rolling Stone article, here’s the link for the gofund campaign:
http://www.gofundme.com/amenbrother
Pulled from Rolling Stone article, here’s the link for the gofund campaign:
http://www.gofundme.com/amenbrother
Pulled from Rolling Stone article, here’s the link for the gofund campaign:
http://www.gofundme.com/amenbrother
Would Drum and Bass and all the genres that split off of that even exist without the Amen Break? I was listening to a lot of the classics from the 90’s and those dudes really owe that break a huge debt.
Would Drum and Bass and all the genres that split off of that even exist without the Amen Break? I was listening to a lot of the classics from the 90’s and those dudes really owe that break a huge debt.
Would Drum and Bass and all the genres that split off of that even exist without the Amen Break? I was listening to a lot of the classics from the 90’s and those dudes really owe that break a huge debt.
http://www.economist.com/node/21541707
“Mr Spencer is not interested in the digital age and its remix culture. He dismisses the music spawned by the track as “plagiarism” and “bullshit””
hmmm…
http://www.economist.com/node/21541707
“Mr Spencer is not interested in the digital age and its remix culture. He dismisses the music spawned by the track as “plagiarism” and “bullshit””
hmmm…
http://www.economist.com/node/21541707
“Mr Spencer is not interested in the digital age and its remix culture. He dismisses the music spawned by the track as “plagiarism” and “bullshit””
hmmm…
Acting like the musical world would have been better had we had some draconian enforcement of copyright for 6 seconds of drums is ridiculous. Yes it is bullshit that no one who made money off of this track ever tried to send some his way, but if something like the upcoming TPP agreement were in place, lots of music would never have been made and the artists may have faced jail time.
It comes down to respect. Like Avicii stealing Sylenth1. It’s just super disrespectful to be in a position of plenty and not give back to those who’ve you built your career out of.
But that is a social failure, not something that should cause intelligent people like you Peter to lament failures of our (completely broken when it comes to paying artists already) copyright system.
We need more money for art in this world, period, but that doesn’t mean jumping into bed with the rhetoric of those who have always f$#€%d us over in the first place.
Amen
Acting like the musical world would have been better had we had some draconian enforcement of copyright for 6 seconds of drums is ridiculous. Yes it is bullshit that no one who made money off of this track ever tried to send some his way, but if something like the upcoming TPP agreement were in place, lots of music would never have been made and the artists may have faced jail time.
It comes down to respect. Like Avicii stealing Sylenth1. It’s just super disrespectful to be in a position of plenty and not give back to those who’ve you built your career out of.
But that is a social failure, not something that should cause intelligent people like you Peter to lament failures of our (completely broken when it comes to paying artists already) copyright system.
We need more money for art in this world, period, but that doesn’t mean jumping into bed with the rhetoric of those who have always f$#€%d us over in the first place.
Amen
Acting like the musical world would have been better had we had some draconian enforcement of copyright for 6 seconds of drums is ridiculous. Yes it is bullshit that no one who made money off of this track ever tried to send some his way, but if something like the upcoming TPP agreement were in place, lots of music would never have been made and the artists may have faced jail time.
It comes down to respect. Like Avicii stealing Sylenth1. It’s just super disrespectful to be in a position of plenty and not give back to those who’ve you built your career out of.
But that is a social failure, not something that should cause intelligent people like you Peter to lament failures of our (completely broken when it comes to paying artists already) copyright system.
We need more money for art in this world, period, but that doesn’t mean jumping into bed with the rhetoric of those who have always f$#€%d us over in the first place.
Amen
“giving something back to the man behind the legendary breakbeat.” Well it’s not doing that is it, it’s giving back to the copyright holder of the legendary breakbeat….
George Coleman, your drumming is truly legendary….
“giving something back to the man behind the legendary breakbeat.” Well it’s not doing that is it, it’s giving back to the copyright holder of the legendary breakbeat….
Gregory Coleman, your drumming is truly legendary….
“giving something back to the man behind the legendary breakbeat.” Well it’s not doing that is it, it’s giving back to the copyright holder of the legendary breakbeat….
Gregory Coleman, your drumming is truly legendary….
I love the break and I love a lot of music that uses the break but I’m not sure I like any of it as much as I like “Color Him Father”, that’s a great record. This is a nice thing to do but I think it would be better if Spencer were remembered for the great song he actually wrote.
I’m sure this dude means well but the drummer already died homeless, human history may never record a better example of “too little too late.”
I love the break and I love a lot of music that uses the break but I’m not sure I like any of it as much as I like “Color Him Father”, that’s a great record. This is a nice thing to do but I think it would be better if Spencer were remembered for the great song he actually wrote.
I’m sure this dude means well but the drummer already died homeless, human history may never record a better example of “too little too late.”
I love the break and I love a lot of music that uses the break but I’m not sure I like any of it as much as I like “Color Him Father”, that’s a great record. This is a nice thing to do but I think it would be better if Spencer were remembered for the great song he actually wrote.
I’m sure this dude means well but the drummer already died homeless, human history may never record a better example of “too little too late.”
epic!
epic!
epic!
you all need to see this… richard has told me personally he has no plans to share with the coleman family… i started this thread to give all the details about all of this:
http://www.dogsonacid.com/threads/justice-for-g-c-coleman-amen-drummer-need-you-to-speak-out.768442/
you all need to see this… richard has told me personally he has no plans to share with the coleman family… i started this thread to give all the details about all of this:
http://www.dogsonacid.com/threads/justice-for-g-c-coleman-amen-drummer-need-you-to-speak-out.768442/
you all need to see this… richard has told me personally he has no plans to share with the coleman family… i started this thread to give all the details about all of this:
http://www.dogsonacid.com/threads/justice-for-g-c-coleman-amen-drummer-need-you-to-speak-out.768442/
Is it good that the master recordings, being made pre-Berne, have almost certainly lapsed out of copyright (as everything is supposed to do), and the *record label* isn’t owed money too?
Everyone who doesn’t get it should read this (yes it will take you 15 minutes; invest it):
http://www.spiderrobinson.com/melancholyelephants.html
Isn’t it good that the master recordings, being made pre-Berne, have almost certainly lapsed out of copyright (as everything is supposed to do), and the *record label* isn’t owed money too?
Everyone who doesn’t get it should read this (yes it will take you 15 minutes; invest it):
http://www.spiderrobinson.com/melancholyelephants.html
Isn’t it good that the master recordings, being made pre-Berne, have almost certainly lapsed out of copyright (as everything is supposed to do), and the *record label* isn’t owed money too?
Everyone who doesn’t get it should read this (yes it will take you 15 minutes; invest it):
http://www.spiderrobinson.com/melancholyelephants.html
“the man behind the legendary breakbeat”..is NOT Richard Spencer.It’s Gregory Coleman, period.Wish people would get their facts right, including Mr.Webster.
As nice as the idea of the project is, they should’ve waited til they found the heirs of Mr.Coleman.Now all the money goes to Spencer and Mr.Coleman is screwed a second time post mortem.Great job..
“the man behind the legendary breakbeat”..is NOT Richard Spencer.It’s Gregory Coleman, period.Wish people would get their facts right, including Mr.Webster.
As nice as the idea of the project is, they should’ve waited til they found the heirs of Mr.Coleman.Now all the money goes to Spencer and Mr.Coleman is screwed a second time post mortem.Great job..
“the man behind the legendary breakbeat”..is NOT Richard Spencer.It’s Gregory Coleman, period.Wish people would get their facts right, including Mr.Webster.
As nice as the idea of the project is, they should’ve waited til they found the heirs of Mr.Coleman.Now all the money goes to Spencer and Mr.Coleman is screwed a second time post mortem.Great job..