Global Village — Houston Music Archive

Houston's own modern funk pioneers, Global Village has been a force in the Houston, Austin, and Dallas music scenes since 1990. The nine-member ensemble built its reputation on crisp horn arrangements and the stylized vocals of Chad Strader, whose delivery mixed the sugary, soulful quality of Stevie Wonder with the hefty, hip-thrust flash of pre-disco Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire.

By 1992 the band was packing nightclubs across East Texas with a roots-conscious mix of covers and originals, winning Best Funk at the Houston Press Music Awards that year. They played Party on the Plaza, the Houston International Festival, Power of Houston, and SXSW, and opened for national acts including The Gap Band, Sting, and Tower of Power. Trumpet player Keith Van Horne is the band's only original member to remain through every lineup.

Global Village released their first CD of original material in 1996 — ten tracks of well-executed, airtight funk. After a hiatus, the group retooled with guitarist Leland Isley and new lead vocalist Ozlo B. and released Sugar What? in 2000. The band's initial 15-year run ended around 2005, but a sold-out reunion show in 2017 brought them back. They've continued playing reunion shows at the Continental Club and other Houston venues.

Members

Photos

Discography

Global Village (1996)

Debut CD of original material. Ten tracks of airtight funk, though critics noted the studio production didn't fully capture the band's live energy.

Sugar What? (2000)

Second studio album featuring the retooled lineup with Leland Isley on guitar and Ozlo B. on vocals.

Tastes Like Butta
Sassy
Moody Like the Moon
Sugar Butt
New Blood

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