In the summer of 1969, The Winstons released what would become the most sampled song in music history. Initially thought of as a throwaway track, “Amen, Brother” became the foundational bedrock of entire music genres, from hip-hop to jungle, to drum and bass, with some of today's greatest artists borrowing the song's six-second drum solo for their tracks.
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Photo by Michael Ochs Archives / Getty ImagesPhoto by Michael Ochs Archives on Getty Images
The Winstons were a Washington, D.C.-based funk and soul band whose original lineup included Richard Lewis Spencer (bandleader, saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter), Gregory C. Coleman (drummer), Quincy Mattison (guitarist), Ray Maritano (saxophonist, flautist), Phil Tolotta (bassist), and Sonny Peckrol (pianist).
Blending rich R&B grooves, gospel undertones, and horn-driven melodies into their music, The Winstons are best known for two hits. The first is their Grammy-winning 1969 gem, “Color Him Father,” a tribute to caring and dutiful stepparents. The track was a massive crossover success that hit No. 2 on the Billboard R&B charts and No. 7on the pop charts.
Second, and the most fundamentally impactful, is the “throwaway” instrumental B-side to “Color Him Father.” Titled “Amen, Brother,” the instrumental track continues to make the most noise as the most sampled song of all time, according to WhoSampled’s most-sampled list.
That’s because the gospel-inspired track features a revolutionary six-second drum solo, called the “Amen Break,” courtesy of Coleman. A fleeting interlude, the solo was later lifted by music producers in the '80s and '90s, elevating thousands of songs and changing the trajectory of electronic music and hip-hop.
Songs that have tapped “Amen, Brother” for its blistering drum solo include N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton” (1988), The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” (1996), Oasis’ “D’You Know What I Mean?” (1997), Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good” (2006), and Salt-N-Pepa’s “I Desire” (1986). Rage Against the Machine, DJ Zinc, and David Bowie also had fun injecting Coleman’s drum work into their own.
Fun side note: Apple Music has compiled a playlist featuring songs that have snatched the “furious drum break.” It’s diverse; it’s all-encompassing; it’s totally worth your time.
Despite the track’s ubiquity, the song’s creators got zilch by way of financial benefit. That changed slightly, however, in 2015, when the writers finally received some royalties for all the uncredited recordings.
According to the BBC, because “Amen, Brother” was released prior to federal copyright laws, the band missed out on royalties. To correct this, two British DJs organized a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe, eventually presenting Spencer with a check for more than $31,750. Unfortunately, Coleman, who passed away homeless in 2006, died before he could be compensated.
View this post on InstagramThis year, the track’s legacy was finally cemented, with the recording selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.
Today, Phillips, who trademarked and reactivated the group in 1996, continues to perform with his ensemble. A version of the group, often billed as The Winstons or The Winstons Orchestra, play a mix of original music and a Memories of Motown & Soul Revue.
Related: 1965 No. 1 Hit, With the Oldest Lyrics Ever, Became a Timeless Anthem
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