Ozone – Jump On It / Li’l Suzy – CD (Expansion)

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee Charles Alexander Glenn Jr formed a group The Endeavors with two school mates Benny Wallace and James Stewart Jr in the late 60s. Optimistic about their chances for success in Los Angeles they traveled to the city and recorded their debut single “I Know You Don’t Want Me” in 1970. Becoming more serious, the original trio added new members, reconfigured through trial and error, then eventually returned to Los Angeles energized with a new confidence and a new name, Ozone. It was Billy Preston who first saw their potential and hired them as his band. He also took them to Motown Records where they were utilized as musicians and arrangers. Their first credited work are for arrangements for Teena Marie and the group Hi Inergy. They also toured as musicians for Syreeta.

In 1980 they recorded their debut album “Walk On”, a polished set of sophisticated west coast funk and soul with a taste of jazz. They became more involved with Teena Mare and worked more on her recordings. Those two albums were followed up with “Jump On It” and “Li’l Suzy”, presented here for the first time remastered from the original master tapes. The group were also in demand as musicians for other artists both at Motown and elsewhere (including Luther Vandross) meaning their own aspirations as a band would come secondary.- Expansion