Maxx Kidd

Not to be confused with Max Kidd (American football).
Maxx Kidd
Background information
Birth nameCarl Lomax Kidd
Born(1941-08-18)August 18, 1941[1]
Charleston, West Virginia[2]
OriginWashington, D.C.
DiedMarch 13, 2017(2017-03-13) (aged 75)
Chevy Chase, Maryland[1]
Genres
Occupation(s)Music executive, songwriter, record producer, film producer, concert promoter
Years active1960–2017
LabelsT.T.E.D., Capitol, Curtom, Shrine

Maxx Kidd (born Carl Lomax Kidd, August 8, 1941 – March 13, 2017)[1][3] was an American record producer, music promoter, film producer, and impresario based in Washington, D.C.[1] He is regarded as one of the most significant figures in shepherding the growth of go-go music.[1][4][5][6] Some of the most well-known production credits included "Blow Your Whistle" and "We Need Some Money", along with numerous other go-go songs.[4] Additionally, Kidd has done concert promotion for numerous musical acts, such as Lou Rawls, Shalamar, The Temptations, Johnnie Taylor, Van McCoy, and The O'Jays.[1][7]

Biography[edit]

Maxx Kidd was born on August 8, 1941, and raised in Charleston, West Virginia.[1][2][4] During his youth in West Virginia, he met Nat King Cole in a nightclub which was owned by his father.[3][4][8] This encounter sparked Kidd's interest in the music industry.[8] Thereafter, he became a calypso singer at a drive-in restaurant.[4][8]

Kidd briefly served in the United States Army before relocating to Washington, D.C. in 1960.[1][8] After arriving in D.C., Kidd joined soul group The Enjoyables,[4] whose members included Keni St. Lewis, James Johnson, William Britton, Gerald Richardson, and Sidney Hall.[1][9][10] The group released their debut single "Push a Little Harder" on Capitol Records in 1964, and the follow-up single "Shame" in 1966 on the D.C.-based label Shrine Records.[8] Additionally, Kidd also worked with Curtis Mayfield's record label "Curtom Records", where he collaborated with Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler and Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers.[1][8] He created his own record label T.T.E.D. (the initials stood for "Tolerance, Trust, Eternal dedication, and Determination") and released numerous go-go singles and albums.[4][7][8]

In 1992, Kidd suffered a stroke and was faced with continuing health issues for the remainder of his life.[8][11] He died on March 13, 2017, in Chevy Chase, Maryland at the age of 75.[4][7][8] Kidd was survived by five daughters, one son, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, four siblings, and a son-in-law.[1][8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Staff Writer (March 16, 2017). "Veteran Go-Go music producer Maxx Kidd dies at 75". Defender Network.
  2. ^ a b Cooper, Michael (June 1985). "Kiss me Before You Go-Go". SPIN. pp. 65–67.
  3. ^ a b "Maxx Kidd". Discogs. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Mitchell, Gail (March 15, 2017). "Go-Go Music Pioneer Maxx Kidd Dies at 75". Billboard.com.
  5. ^ Staff Writer (15 March 2017). "Go-Go Music Pioneer Maxx Kidd Dies at 75". Music News Web.
  6. ^ Lornell, Kip; Stephenson, Jr., Charles C. (2001). The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7727-6.
  7. ^ a b c Staff Writer (n.d.). "Music producer Maxx Kidd dies". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kiviat, Steve (March 20, 2017). "Maxx Kidd, Go-Go's Fiercest Advocate, Has Died". Washington City Paper.
  9. ^ "The Enjoyables". Discogs. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  10. ^ Hamilton, Andrew. "The Enjoyables | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  11. ^ Johnson, Bruce (March 27, 2017). "#OffScriptOn9: Remember Go-Go pioneer Maxx Kidd". WUSA*9 | OFFSCRIPT with Bruce Johnson.[permanent dead link]

External links[edit]

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