Charles Edward McCormick (May 8, 1946 – April 12, 2022)[1] was an American musician. He was best known as the bassist, founding member, and one of the lead singers of the American R&B/soul and funk band Bloodstone.[2][3]

Charles McCormick
Birth nameCharles Edward McCormick
Born(1946-05-08)May 8, 1946
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
DiedApril 12, 2022(2022-04-12) (aged 75)
Los Angeles, California, United States
GenresR&B, soul, funk
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar
Years active1962–2022
LabelsDecca, London, Motown, T-Neck/CBS, Mon-Tab, Queen City Records, Warner
Formerly ofBloodstone
Spouse(s)Marian McCormick

Early and personal life

McCormick was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.[1] He was the younger brother of well-known Los Angeles newsman and disc jockey, Larry McCormick.[1][4] He studied music at Central High School, Kansas City.[4] While still in high school, McCormick helped his friend, Harry Williams, form a singing group called the Sinceres in 1962, which would later become Bloodstone.[5][6][7] He also served in the army for two and a half years.[4]

Career

Following the formation of The Sinceres, McCormick and the rest of the group toured with a horn band known as the Soulful Emeralds in the late sixties.[7] As the group evolved, they learned to play instruments and became a band.[6] They developed a signature sound that combined sophisticated vocals and instrumentation with elements of funk and rock.[6] By 1971, the band had relocated to England and changed its name to Bloodstone.[2][7] The band consisted of McCormick on bass and vocals, Williams and Roger Durham on percussions and vocals, Charles Love and Willis Draffen on guitars and vocals, and Melvin Webb on drums.[7] Webb would later be replaced by Eddie Summers.[3] The band would chart thirteen songs between 1973 and 1984,[6] with the McCormick-penned "Natural High" being their biggest hit, reaching the Top Ten on both R&B and pop charts in 1973,[8] becoming their defining song.[6] The group also went through several personnel changes through the years; McCormick left Bloodstone in 1982 and he was replaced by Ron Wilson.[9] Between 1981 and 1984, McCormick recorded and released two singles as a solo artist.[10] He rejoined Bloodstone in 1984.[9] The band continued to play live, though most of the original members died through the years; Durham died in 1973, Webb died in 1982, Draffen died in 2002, Love died in 2014,[6] and McCormick followed in 2022.[11] The sole surviving original member is Williams.

Death

McCormick died on April 12, 2022, aged 75,[11] in Los Angeles, California, United States.[1] He is survived by his siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[1]

Discography

With Bloodstone

Source:[12]

The following albums listed below feature McCormick's work with Bloodstone.

  • Bloodstone (1972)
  • Natural High (1973)
  • Unreal (1973)
  • I Need Time (1974)
  • Riddle of the Sphinx (1974)
  • Train Ride to Hollywood (1975)
  • Do You Wanna Do a Thing (1976)
  • Lullaby of Broadway (1976)
  • Don't Stop! (1978)
  • Bloodstone's Greatest Hits (1985)
  • Now!... That's What I'm Talkin' About (2004)

Solo

Album

  • Many Moods of Charlie Mack (2012)[13]

Singles

Source:[10]

  • "Now You Cry / I Want You For Myself" (1981)
  • "Live Wire" (1984)

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Charles McCormick Obituary (2022) – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "R.I.P. Bloodstone lead singer and bassist, Charles McCormick". SoulTracks – Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews. April 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Bloodstone Biography". OLDIES.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Lewis, Jaquille (May 8, 2022). "SHOUTING HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALL THE WAY TO GLORY TO MY GRANDFATHER, CHARLES MCCORMICK!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ ""TRUTH IN RHYTHM" – Bloodstone, Part 1 of 2". YouTube. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Deming, Mark. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Bloodstone Page". www.soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  8. ↑ Betts, Graham (June 2, 2014). Motown Encyclopedia. AC Publishing. ISBN 978-1-311-44154-6.
  9. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books. p. 68. ISBN 0-8230-7499-4..
  10. 1 2 "Charles E. McCormick". Discogs. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 "Charles McCormick". IMDb. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Bloodstone Albums and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Charles McCormick Albums and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  14. ↑ Rondeau, Charles R., Train Ride to Hollywood (Comedy, Musical, Fantasy), Billy Jack Enterprises, Crystal Jukebox Film Corp., retrieved December 21, 2022
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