The Winstons

The Winstons were an American funk and soul music group based in Washington, D.C. They are known for their 1969 recording featuring a song entitled "Color Him Father" on the A-side, and "Amen, Brother" on the B-side. Halfway into "Amen, Brother", there is a drum solo (performed by Gregory C. Coleman) which would cause the release to become the most widely sampled record in the history of electronic music.^[1] Sampled audio clips of the drum solo became known as the Amen break, which has been used in thousands of tracks in many musical genres, including breakcore, drum and bass, hip hop,^[2] jungle, big beat and industrial.^[3]

The Winstons
The Winstons in 1969
Background information
Origin	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres	Funk, soul
Labels	Metromedia
Past members	Richard Lewis Spencer Gregory C. Coleman Phil Tolotta Quincy Mattison Ray Maritano Sonny Peckrol

The "Color Him Father" record sold over one million copies, and received a gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America on 24 July 1969. It also won a Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Song (1970).^[4]

The Winstons struggled to secure gigs in the South with their multiracial composition and disbanded in 1970.^[1]

Members

• Joe Phillips (lead guitar, bandleader)
• Richard Lewis Spencer (tenor saxophone, lead vocals; died 2020)
• Ray Maritano (alto saxophone, backing vocals)
• Quincy Mattison (guitar, backing vocals)
• Phil Tolotta (organ, co-lead vocals)
• Sonny Pekerol, J.Lee Zane (bass guitar, backing vocals)
• Gregory C. Coleman (drums, backing vocals; died 2006)

The Winstons toured as a backup band for the Impressions.^[4]

Notable songs

• "Color Him Father" – (1969, Billboard Hot 100 # 7)
• "Amen, Brother" – (1969)
• "Love of the Common People" – (1969, Billboard Hot 100 # 54)

See also

• Breakbeat
• Drum and bass