“Black Fire is a collective of precision-discipline creativity of epic cosmic powers: a love supreme”.
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- Artist
- Oneness Of Juju
- ReleaseProduct
- Bush Brothers and Space Rangers
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT255D
- Release Date
- May 13, 2022
- LP
- Download
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- Artist
- Wayne Davis
- ReleaseProduct
- Wayne Davis
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT244
- Release Date
- May 13, 2022
- LP
- Download
Stream or Buy Elsewhere
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- Artist
- Juju
- ReleaseProduct
- A Message From Mozambique
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT249D
- Release Date
- October 15, 2021
- LP
- Download
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- Artist
- Oneness Of Juju
- ReleaseProduct
- Bush Brothers and Space Rangers
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT255D
- Release Date
- May 13, 2022
- LP
- Download
-
- Artist
- Okyerema Asante
- ReleaseProduct
- Drum Message
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT247D
- Release Date
- November 5, 2021
- LP
- CD
- Download
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- Artist
- Wayne Davis
- ReleaseProduct
- Wayne Davis
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT244
- Release Date
- May 13, 2022
- LP
- Download
-
- Artist
- Oneness Of Juju
- ReleaseProduct
- Space Jungle Luv
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT243
- Release Date
- May 21, 2021
- Download
-
- Artist
- Southern Energy Ensemble
- ReleaseProduct
- Southern Energy
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT254
- Release Date
- July 2, 2021
- CD
- Download
-
- Artist
- Theatre West
- ReleaseProduct
- Bow to the People
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT252
- Release Date
- July 2, 2021
- CD
- Download
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- Artist
- Oneness Of Juju
- ReleaseProduct
- Make a Change
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT257
- Release Date
- May 14, 2021
- LP
- CD
- Download
-
- Artist
- Juju
- ReleaseProduct
- Live at 131 Prince Street
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT250
- Release Date
- March 5, 2021
- LP
- CD
- Download
-
- Artist
- Byard Lancaster
- ReleaseProduct
- My Pure Joy
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT240
- Release Date
- February 26, 2021
- LP
- CD
- Download
-
- Artist
- Lon Moshe & Southern Freedom Arkestra
- ReleaseProduct
- Love Is Where the Spirit Lies
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT239
- Release Date
- January 15, 2021
- LP
- CD
- Bundle
- Download
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- Artist
- Hamiet Bluiett
- ReleaseProduct
- Bearer of the Holy Flame
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT246
- Release Date
- March 12, 2021
- CD
- Download
-
- Artist
- Experience Unlimited
- ReleaseProduct
- Free Yourself
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT253
- Release Date
- February 5, 2021
- Download
-
- Artist
- Baba Dontez
- ReleaseProduct
- Horns for Bob Marley
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT241D
- Release Date
- February 5, 2021
- Download
-
- Artist
- Black Fire
- ReleaseProduct
- Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story 75-93
- Label
- Strut
- Catalogue Number
- STRUT238
- Release Date
- August 14, 2020
- LP
- Download
Official archive of Jimmy Gray's seminal independent label & collective, based in Richmond, VA between 1975 and 1993. Formed by DJ and record producer Jimmy Gray in Richmond, Virginia, and following in the footsteps of other influential black-owned independent labels like Strata-East and Tribe, the foundation of Black Fire coincided with saxophonist James “Plunky” Branch returning to Richmond from New York to form Oneness Of Juju. The band’s ‘African Rhythms’ album in 1975 was the perfect fusion of jazz, deep African polyrhythms and empowering lyrics. Bassist Muzi Branch, a trained artist, created the first of many Black Fire hand-illustrated sleeves for this release.
The album set the tone for a series of landmark releases on the label including Oneness Of Juju’s ‘Space Jungle Luv’ (1976) and debuts from soulman Wayne Davis (1976) and early go-go pioneers Experience Unlimited (1977). Gray continued to use his influence and strong A&R instincts to bring in more key artists – great jazz players like Byard Lancaster and Hamiet Bluiett, Ghanaian master percussionist Okyerema Asante and talented collectives including Southern Energy Ensemble and music / drama troupe Theatre West. Due to personal and cashflow issues, many releases had to be canned and only surfaced subsequently on CD releases during the early ‘90s. Strut Records is working in collaboration with Plunky Branch to make the sounds of Black Fire available once more. Reissues and previously unreleased sessions are taken from the original master tapes.
The album set the tone for a series of landmark releases on the label including Oneness Of Juju’s ‘Space Jungle Luv’ (1976) and debuts from soulman Wayne Davis (1976) and early go-go pioneers Experience Unlimited (1977). Gray continued to use his influence and strong A&R instincts to bring in more key artists – great jazz players like Byard Lancaster and Hamiet Bluiett, Ghanaian master percussionist Okyerema Asante and talented collectives including Southern Energy Ensemble and music / drama troupe Theatre West. Due to personal and cashflow issues, many releases had to be canned and only surfaced subsequently on CD releases during the early ‘90s. Strut Records is working in collaboration with Plunky Branch to make the sounds of Black Fire available once more. Reissues and previously unreleased sessions are taken from the original master tapes.