In the mid 60’s Cincinnati, Ohio was the hub for many R&B and Funk influenced bands. It was also the Headquarters for The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, and his record label, King Records.

During this period a popular local party band, The DITALIANS, released a 45 for Mercury Records. It would be a couple years later that The DITALIAN members would start the sensational Show Band 24 CARAT BLACK. This group garnered considerable local attention and would record Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth with Dale Warren producing for the Stax/ Enterprise label. This album would ultimately enter the Music History record books as the ‘most sampled’ album ever by the Rap and Hip-Hop community spanning the early 90’s to present day.

After parting ways the core members formed SHOTGUN in April of 1975 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.. SHOTGUN embarked on a 7 year journey that would include 6 albums for major labels ABC and MCA Records. Numerous songs charted on the Billboard’s Hot 100 showcasing the groups signature Funk Rock rhyt