Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch is an experienced performer, songwriter and music and film producer. He is president of his own independent record label, N.A.M.E. Brand Records, through which he has released 30 albums.
With his group, Plunky & Oneness, he has appeared in concert with some of the biggest names in Black music, including Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, Yellow Jackets, Frankie Beverly & Maze, LL Cool J, Chuck Brown, and more.
His song “Every Way But Loose” was a top-ten soul music chart hit in London in the 1980s and his hit single, “Drop,” was released in 2007. Now in 2019, he continues to produce and tour with his band playing rousing funk, jazz, African, rap and R&B.
With his group, Plunky & Oneness, he has appeared in concert with some of the biggest names in Black music, including Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, Yellow Jackets, Frankie Beverly & Maze, LL Cool J, Chuck Brown, and more.
His song “Every Way But Loose” was a top-ten soul music chart hit in London in the 1980s and his hit single, “Drop,” was released in 2007. Now in 2019, he continues to produce and tour with his band playing rousing funk, jazz, African, rap and R&B.
Plunky started making Afro-jazz in San Francisco and in New York in the 1970s. Since then he has written over 450 songs, toured in Europe, been to Africa six times, visited Cuba twice, played hundreds of gigs, made documentary films, written his autobiography, and received numerous prestigious awards.
Plunky & Oneness is his band of musical nomads based in Virginia. The group includes three Branches: Plunky (saxes, vocals), Muzi (bass, vocals) and Fire (percussion, tracks), Plunky, his brother and his son. Featured vocalist, Charlayne “Chyp” Green, has been with the ensemble for almost 20 years, but she is both seasoned and fresh. Keyboardist J. L Harris and guitarist Carl Lester El combine forces with master percussionists, Asante, and Abdou Mohammed to create Afro-jazz-funk grooves to make you dance.
Plunky & Oneness is his band of musical nomads based in Virginia. The group includes three Branches: Plunky (saxes, vocals), Muzi (bass, vocals) and Fire (percussion, tracks), Plunky, his brother and his son. Featured vocalist, Charlayne “Chyp” Green, has been with the ensemble for almost 20 years, but she is both seasoned and fresh. Keyboardist J. L Harris and guitarist Carl Lester El combine forces with master percussionists, Asante, and Abdou Mohammed to create Afro-jazz-funk grooves to make you dance.
Plunky & Oneness performed at the New Orleans World’s Fair, the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta (four times) and twice at the Capital Jazz Festival in Maryland. They have appeared at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, Lincoln Center in New York the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and in other prestigious venues. For more than 20 years Plunky has toured continually with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA).
In 2018, J. Plunky Branch received the prestigious “50 For 50 Award” from the VCA as one of the 50 outstanding arts persons in Virginia of the last 50 years. In 2015 he was selected as one of the Strong Men & Women in Virginia History by the Library of Virginia.
In addition to being a veteran saxophonist and composer, J. Plunky Branch has served as an administrator, lecturer, and teacher. Plunky is a two-time recipient of NEA Jazz Fellowships and he was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force for the Promotion of the Arts in Virginia. He has taught at Virginia Union University and Virginia Commonwealth University, both in Richmond.
Throughout his career, Plunky has entertained and taught thousands, and in the process, has developed a broad and loyal following. During his 1987 West African tour, critics proclaimed Plunky "one of the greatest living saxophonist!" In a context where rhythm, ritual, power and emotion reign supreme, he just might be!
J. PLUNKY BRANCH
N.A.M.E. BRAND RECORDS
2218 ROSEWOOD AVENUE
RICHMOND, VA 23220
N.A.M.E. BRAND RECORDS
2218 ROSEWOOD AVENUE
RICHMOND, VA 23220
Plunky & Oneness – “Crazy Lately” Single release date January 22, 2019
“Crazy Lately” is the new song by Plunky & Oneness featuring Charlayne Green. Produced by group leader J. Plunky Branch, the single will be released on January 22, 2019, and it will be included on the group’s new EP, Dance/Crazy which will be officially released January 29, 2019.
The lyrical R&B song “Crazy Lately” references recent political and social tumult, but the song exudes calming optimism with Charlayne Green’s sweet, expressive vocals proclaiming, “…we gonna be all right.” The song’s verses talk about watching the news and demented politicians and finding shelter in a helter-skelter environment. But the track’s overall impact is reassuring in ways similar to “Be Optimistic” by Sounds of Blackness or Tevin Campbell’s “Tomorrow” or Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing” or any number of other positive chants.
Crazy Lately (video) https://youtu.be/XZyx9q-_6bk
Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch started making Afro-jazz in San Francisco and in New York in the 1970s. Since then he has released 25 albums, written 450 songs, toured in Europe, been to Africa six times, visited Cuba twice, played hundreds of gigs, made documentary films, written his autobiography, and received numerous prestigious awards.
Plunky & Oneness is his band of musical nomads based in Virginia. The group includes three Branches: Plunky (saxes, vocals), Muzi (bass, vocals) and Fire (percussion, tracks), Plunky, his brother and his son. Featured vocalist, Charlayne “Chyp” Green, has been with the ensemble for almost 20 years, but she is both seasoned and fresh. Keyboardist J. L Harris and guitarist Carl Lester El combine forces with master percussionists, Asante and Abdou Mohammed to create Afro-grooves to make you dance.
Plunky & Oneness is his band of musical nomads based in Virginia. The group includes three Branches: Plunky (saxes, vocals), Muzi (bass, vocals) and Fire (percussion, tracks), Plunky, his brother and his son. Featured vocalist, Charlayne “Chyp” Green, has been with the ensemble for almost 20 years, but she is both seasoned and fresh. Keyboardist J. L Harris and guitarist Carl Lester El combine forces with master percussionists, Asante and Abdou Mohammed to create Afro-grooves to make you dance.
The upcoming Dance/Crazy EP will also include “Dance the Night Away,” an Afro-dance, soulful house song about the dance floor as a place to take a break from the rigors of resisting, evolving and working. “Come take a ride to paradise” and follow the song’s command “to dance the night away.”
Plunky’s journey brings him to this place and time with an aggressive release schedule which anticipates a new Plunky & Oneness album coming in February.
The music says yes, the future is now. Crazy Lately (written by J. Plunky Branch, Charlayne Green)
The music says yes, the future is now. Crazy Lately (written by J. Plunky Branch, Charlayne Green)
Produced by J. Plunky Branch and J. Fire Branch / Songs published by Shekere Music, BMI
