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=Pure Essence=

Pure Essence (Funk Band) is an American 70s R&B band from Cincinnati, Ohio, originally consisting of Steve "Tuck" Walters, Jerome "Mouse" Richardson, Toby Rivers, Tony Coats, Dwight Tribble, Larry Middleton, Antonio "L.A." Reid, and Kevin "Kayo" Roberson.

Biography
After Steve "Tuck" Tucker Walters and Jerome "Mouse" Richardson infiltrated another local Cincinnati band, Mother's Pride, they soon led the band in a different direction and their influence swayed other members of the band to change their sound and their name, to Pure Essence. Pure Essence was influenced by bands like Sly And The Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Yes as well as other local talent like Jimi Macon and Bootsy Collins in the mid to late 1970's. Pure Essence was also known for promoting spirituality and eastern philosophies which was on full display at their live shows. Pure Essence released it's only two recorded singles on a 45" record in 1976, "Wake Up" and "3rd-Rock." 3rd Rock became their most popular song and was played on the local radio in Cincinnati on WEBN.

Some of the original Pure Essence members relocated to Indianapolis, IN in 1980. While in Indiana the band went through another metamorphosis which led by the group's new singer and the drummer. Of the original Pure Essence members, Antonio "L.A." Reid, went on to become a top executive in the music industry co founding LaFace Records with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds in 1989.

Re Birth
In 2005 Soul Cal, a division of Stones Throw Records in Los Angeles, came across Pure Essence's only record with 3rd Rock and Wake Up parts 1 and 2 via the collecting efforts of Soul Cal's head, Egon Alapatt. The record, a collector's item, became popular among the DJ's who catered to Funk music and classic R&B which was beginning a resurgence in night clubs from Europe to the US and parts of Asia. Soul Cal, who often makes deals to reissue classic soul records, sought the surviving members of Pure Essence and with the help of Chris Bergen, a local Cincinnati DJ, tracked down Steve "Tuck" Walters.

The song "Third Rock" was sampled on RJD2's "Clean Living", from his 2004 album Since We Last Spoke. In comparing the original version with the sample, Tal Rosenberg of Stylus Magazine wrote that the band "performs the track better than what was already a highlight on Since We Last Spoke." "Third Rock" was later included on the Chrome Children compilation, a co-production of Stones Throw Records and Adult Swim released in 2006. Marisa Brown of Allmusic said that the song "is nothing but smooth, warm funk." Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal called the song a "Sly Stone-style 1970s gem". Another Pure Essence song, "Wake Up", was described by Allmusic's Fred Thomas as "washy phase-damaged disco" that sounds "absolutely vital when plucked out of obscurity." The song was featured in the 2008 video game Saints Row 2.

Original members

 * Steve "Tuck" Walters: guitar, vocals
 * Jerome "Mouse" Richardson: vocals, percussion
 * Kevin "Kayo" Roberson: bass
 * Antonio "L.A." Reid: drums
 * Toby Rivers: keyboards
 * Tony Coats: unknown
 * Dwight Tribble: unknown
 * Larry Middleton: vocals, guitar

Studio albums

 * Wake Up Parts 1 and 2 / 3rd Rock (Mantra), 1976
 * Wake Up Parts 1 and 2 / 3rd Rock (Soul Cal Records), 2005

Compilation appearance

 * Soul Cal: Disco & Modern Soul, 1971-1982 (Soul compilation album) (2012)
 * Chrome Children (Hip hop compilation album) (2005)
 * WEBN - The Album Project #2 (Rock compilation album) (1977)

Appearances in media
3rd Rock Was played on local Cincinnati Radio Station WEBN in 1976.