For the better part of the last thirty years, the Average White Band has performed sold-out shows around the world, confirming the timeless appeal of their infectiously danceable funky soul.  Formed in 1972, their roots may have been Scottish, but the collective heart of the band belonged to the soulful sounds coming out of Memphis, Detroit, and Philadelphia in the 1960’s. 

True road warriors, AWB enjoyed an especially exciting touring year in 2004, when they joined fellow blue-eyed soul artists Hall & Oates and Michael McDonald on the “Rock ‘n Soul 2004 Revue” playing major venues across the United States. On April 19^th, 2005, the band released Greatest and Latest on Liquid 8 Records. Greatest and Latest is a collection that spans 16 years of AWB at its best, and is culled from their last four albums. It also includes three brand new tracks, including a very special “Nu Jazz Mix” of their smash hit “Work To Do,” which is steadily climbing the Smooth Jazz charts.  Also included on this CD are two rare live performances. In addition, every copy of Greatest and Latest comes with a bonus DVD, which contains interviews, AWB history, and never before seen concert and in-studio footage. 

Some history: In January 1975, Average White Band’s breakout single “Pick Up the Pieces” and the album AWB reached the top of the Pop and R&B charts.  For the remainder of the decade, the group took their killer groove around the world, leaving in their wake a trail of hits such as “Person to Person”, “Cut the Cake”, “Schoolboy Crush”, “A Love of Your Own” and “Queen of My Soul”.  In 1980 the dance single “Let’s Go ‘Round Again” enjoyed the longest chart run of the year in the United Kingdom.  The original lineup of six Scots disbanded in 1982, sharing the fate of many R&B artists who found themselves swimming against the strong tides of disco and punk rock.  Ten albums, three Grammy nominations, and a large multi-racial following were the band’s legacy...but their story wasn’t nearly over.

n 1989 the band regrouped around founders Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre and has toured relentlessly ever since.  Aided by American musicians Fred Vigdor, Klyde Jones, and Brian Dunne, AWB is committed to life on the road, because, explains Gorrie, “Making people dance is what we do best -- we’re meant to be experienced as a live band.”

One of the most sampled bands ever; Average White Band’s music has been used by well over 200 hip-hop and rap artists, including Janet Jackson, Bobby Brown, TLC and P. Diddy, and has influenced a whole new generation of funk and soul acts.  In just the last few years, the band’s number one hit “Pick Up The Pieces” has been given the big band treatment by Phil Collins, was turned into a “musical conversation” by comedian Chris Rock, was lyricized by jazz legend Jon Hendricks, has been played at numerous sporting events (including the 2003 Super Bowl and NBA games) and was used by Revlon and Mitsubishi for television commercials.  Many jazz artists have covered AWB classics, including Candy Dulfer, Avenue Blue, Kenny G, and David Sanborn. Their tracks can be heard in movies such as “Swingers,” “Bowfinger,” “Superman2,” “Undercover Brother” and “Starsky & Hutch.”