Soul / funk band formed by friends at Northwestern High School. An early lineup of The Grand Jury featured Lloyd Dorsey aka ‘Skip’ (guitar), Michael Taylor (bass ex-Vandals), Anthony Blunt (drums), Neil Simms (sax – also with Charlie & Co., Madhouse), Wendell Shepherd (trumpet), Byron Bell aka ‘Bodean’ (vocals), Marilyn Wright (vocals), Faye Washington (vocals), Jacob ‘Jinx’ Lee (vocals, harmonica, congas), Orrin Bynum (keyboards ex-Madhouse), Michael Parr (vocals), Michael Camphor (vocals)… Wright was later replaced with Marlynn Colden.
The Grand Jury had a history of talented musicians, who along with members of other contemporary local groups such as Witchcraft, and Uncle Remus, became referred to in professional music circles as the Baltimore Connection. George Clinton and Bootsy Collins tapped this connection for many local players. As a result, the membership of these groups changed over the years.
L-R: Skip Dorsey, Marlynn Colden, Byron Bell, Jinx Lee (with tophat), Faye Washington.
Courtesy of Maryland Dept. Enoch Pratt Free Library
A re-formed Grand Jury featured Blunt, Shepherd, Dorsey, Tommy Williams (bass), Gary Hudgins (keyboards ex-Phy Dells), Lloyd Jones (trombone), and vocalists Michael Parr, Vanessa Lynch, and Byron Bell. Other members along the way included Donnie Green (congas), Bop (drums), George Gray (drums), Emanuel Butch Coleman (bass)…
In 1975 they released a single on Bionic Artist Records (BAR) “Music Is Fun to Me (vocal)” b/w (instrumental version). The single was picked up and released on the Philadelphia label IX Chains. A single was also recorded for RCA “There’s A Place for Love.”
in Hunt Valley, May 26, 1976
Photo courtesy of Dennis Chambers
The Grand Jury opened for such artists as Kool & the Gang, Gil-Scott Heron, Deniece Williams, and Parliament at the Civic Center. Also did some touring throughout the country. Seen at the JHU Rock of Ages concert on February 15, 1975, worked as house band at the El Dorado Club on West Baltimore Street with vocalists Michael and Vanessa (nee Lynch) King, and Kevin Muldrow, with Rodney ‘Skeet’ Curtis and Jeff ‘Cherokee’ Bunn. In the late ‘70s the band shortened their name to The Jury.
Skip Dorsey went on to become guitarist and musical director for Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake. Mike Taylor also played in Man’s Theory, and Both Worlds. Blunt also played briefly as a member of Both Worlds. Muldrow later sang for the New Softones. Lee moved to Hollywood in 1975 where he won two Gong Shows. In California he formed Jinx Lee & the Fabulous Blue Ravens and performed all across the country. In ‘00s he lives and plays in Wisconsin and Chicago venues.
Vanessa King continued singing and in the ‘00s she fronted the group The Family… Shepherd later went on with the P-Funk All-Stars, and Chuck Brown’s Bits and Pieces. He also played for First Class, Tim Harris, Softones, Soul Searchers, Evelyn King, and others. Curtis, and Muldrow also went on to P-Funk. Hudgins, and Bunn later joined the Brides of Funkenstein. Bynum published the musical composition “Coming Back Like a Thief in The Night” in 1985. In ‘00s he serves as Music Minister for local churches.
1975 BAR Music Is Fun to Me (vocal) / (instr.)
1975 IX Chains 7022 Music Is Fun to Me (vocal) / (instr.)
