SELECT Records Online. Congo player and recording artist Raymond Simmons fits the dictionary description of an entrepreneur: a person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture. In and around his home town of San Francisco California in the United States, back in the early seventies through the eighties and into the nineties Simmons organized groups of musicians, operated SELECT Records a successful record production company, and assumed more than his share of the risk to preserve and promote the music his company has become known for. Being a musician and Record producer are not his only talents though Raymond Simmons is also accomplished at marketing---on a global scale. Several of his companies’ musical releases, after receiving exposure from local radio stations, went on to become major hits in the European markets. So what is Raymond Simmons up to today? Pretty much the same thing only now-days he has moved much of his promotional and marketing operation to an internet outpost on the Information-Super-Highway, better known as the Internet. Groups like his label's first act the Billy Dunn Band, the Fabulous Playmates, Starlite, and other SELECT Records artists can now be searched out, listened to, and if you're a lover of Old School music, purchased on the web. Creating the music takes ability, preserving the music also takes a certain amount of genius, the musicians and artists connected to the SELECT Records label are lucky that Mr. Raymond Simmons posseses both of those attributes. simmons_94188@yahoo.com -Hank Gray, Giftkone News, January 2010
Mines Ihs Awhl Uphinyah Creyein "Owhh Puhl Ouht!" Parahseyeht Hah! Hah! Ten Five nothin' dowhn step ouht step back in youh ganked again! Fantuhm Huh Dah Ahmihchuh Ruhnwayh Duhfawhm Freehg Wreckich Whuht!
Raymond Simmons is a talented percussionist, who has been around since the 1970’s. Today is classified as an R&B/funk/soul artist, with a special talent for the conga drums. He is similar to the likes of Al Green and Junior Walker, but his rhythm differs because it can be included with many other genres. He has the ability to elevate the sound of any band out there because of how powerful the rhythm in his music is. Raymond incorporates the sound of the conga drum, with the bongos and the steel timbales, which offer a much higher tuned and sharper sound than the other two percussion instruments on these tracks. This assortment mixed with the funk and R&B sounds makes up most of what Raymond calls Hot Percussion Licks.
Part 1: Love and happiness is the message given to the listener during the first part of Hot Percussion Licks. Raymond begins the intro with the beat of fast, pulsing conga drums partnered with his soothing lyrics, and finishes it with electric guitars entering the scene. The track continues and Raymond is joined by female backup vocals, a steady drumbeat, and a subtle bass line, which adds an element of substance to the song. Overall, the lyrical concept is severely simple. According to Raymond Simmons, it’s all about how feeling love and acting happy is all that is needed to make a person feel alive. He states, “Love and happiness, something that can make you do right, or do wrong.”
Part 2: The second part on Hot Percussion Licks is simply a continuation of the first part, but with a different pace to the melody. The first part of the continuation delivers some electro elements mixed in with deep male backup vocals, which gives the song more aggression. This matches perfectly with the lyrics, which state, “You’ve got the power to make me happy because you’ve got the power of love,” meaning that there is an outsider making Raymond feel passionate. Secondly, the guitar sound is hastier and more abrupt, not as smooth as it once sounded in part one. Also, in this section, the percussion section becomes more prevalent. The conga drums and bongo drums are heard continuously throughout the second part, and convey a pounding, almost overbearing beat towards the end of the part.
Reviewed by Magaly Torres of Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion
Reviews from the ScrutinearsThursday, April 8, 2010 12:06 AMFrom: "scrutinears@aol.com" Add sender to ContactsTo: simmons_94188@yahoo.comHotlicks 1
Raymond Simmons does a pretty good performance on the soul classic Love and Happiness. The rhythm track is very full and flowing. Usually when the Scrutinears do a review it is on an original song. In this case it's clear that the bongos add an additional layer to this tune that elevate it up a notch
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It's obvious Raymond Simmons is a highly competent percussionist as he turns the famous song Love and Happiness into a far more rhythmic excursion than it was ever intended. However in many ways it's an improvement, Simmons playing shines on this version, it ends long before you're ready for that groove beat to stop.
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Hotlicks 2
On this clip, Raymond Simmons pulls out the stops with space drums to turn Love and Happiness into a psychedelic soul tune. The rhythm isn't quite as crisp on this version and sort of overpowers the purpose of the song a tad. The snare drum in particular is overpowering. The whole thing goes a bit over the top in my opinion.
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I suspect watching the wild drumwork of Raymond Simmons on this solo section of Love and Happiness would be quite the visual experience. He stretches out the song and takes it to another plane. There is some creative playing involved here, it's an interesting piece of work.
