McKinley Jackson

McKinley Jackson & the Politicians had zero hits, but were instrumental in countless chart records for others. The five-piece band consisted of Jackson, Melvin Griffin, Roderick Chandler, Clay Robinson, and Zachary Slater. The quintet first created a buzz for their lively performances at the 20 Grand Club in their native, Detroit, MI. Don Davis used them exclusively, as did Lamont Dozier and Brian and Eddie Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland). Their recording career consists of one Hotwax album: McKinley Jackson & the Politicians, in 1972, and a few singles that never got much airplay. Like Motown's Funk Brothers, the Politicians were too valuable to send around the country gigging and promoting records. "Free Your Mind," an HDH tune, got the most play, other jams include a rendition of 100 Proof's "Everything Good Is Bad," "Church," and a funk piece, "Psycha-Soula-Funkadelic." Jackson arranged nearly every song recorded for the Invictus/HotWax/Music Merchant labels, and wrote a few toe tappers like "Ace in the Hole" for the Honey Cone. After Invictus/Hotwax folded, the Politicians continued their session work with Don Davis working with him on projects for the Dramatics, Johnny Taylor, the Soul Children, and others. Jackson produced and arranged LPs for many, including Angelo Bond, and Lamont Dozier. Dozier benefited from three hits written by Jackson and James Reddick: "Fish Ain't Biting," "Out Here on My Own," and "Trying to Hold on to My Woman," and wrote "Midnight Flower" for the Four Tops with Reginald Dozier. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide