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Crowdfunding: The Winstons Amen Breakbeat Gesture
Other | Thursday 5th March 2015 | Christina
The Amen break is one of the most iconic loops in music and has been sampled across genres, from N.W.A to Oasis to Nine Inch Nails. It was even in the Futurama theme song. The famous break comes from ‘Amen Brother’ by 60s funk group The Winstons. Lack of copyright laws and statute of limitation restrictions means that copyright holder, lead vocalist, sax player and arranger of ‘Amen Brother’ Richard L. Spencer hasn’t received a penny from the countless samples, and Gregory Coleman, the drummer who played the beat, died broke and homeless.
After former DJ Martyn Webster heard about Richard’s story from a 2011 interview with 1Xtra’s Kutski, he set up a GoFundMe site for people to give something back, “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…please donate towards the good cause of the worldwide music community giving something back to the man behind the legendary breakbeat.” The campaign is not about chasing royalties or paying for clearance, it’s simply a gesture of goodwill. The fund currently sits at over £16,000, well ahead of the original £1000 goal.
Responding to the gesture, Richard said, “I assure you that I am surprised, encouraged, uplifted, and thankful for the kind people who are making this very important statement of musical brotherhood by participating in this event…This loving effort by strangers is confirmation to an old soldier such as I that music is our salvation and refuge for the likes of me. Thanks to you and all of the beautiful soulful lil bruhs and sisters for caring. Now I can die feeling loved – no time soon I hope!”
Contribute to the campaign here
