R&B / funk group formed at Lake Clifton High School. Members included Bruce Atkinson (guitar), Lavont Branch (sax), Thomas Williams (sax). Calvin ‘Pete’ Coles (trombone), Matt ‘Bird’ Williams (trumpet, vocals), Joseph Powell (bass), Eric (drums), and vocalists Nathanial Singletary, Bruce, Jimmy, and Angie (a young vocalist who sang like Chaka Khan).
The group was under Bionic Artist Management starting out as Black Atmosphere, and eventually shortening the name to Atmosphere.
“We played everywhere” recalled Matt, known as ‘Bird’… won a lot of Battle of the Bands events… did a show with Parliament/Funkadelic and Kool & the Gang… we were known for playing stuff that most others would not play – lots of Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, etc. Our horn section was top notch… we loved Parliament Funkadelic and always dressed like them on stage (diapers, etc.). Also did a Blues Brothers routine once in a while.”
When the group split members branched out to form the groups Counterpoint, and Band Aid (the group dressed in doctors outfits).
Matt and friend Raymond Barton went on to produce Toni Braxton and her sisters in the early days. They also produced Tracy Hamlin, Numarx, and others. Matt wrote and produced commercials for Chicken George… In ‘00s Matt plays for the Columbia Jazz Band, and One Flight Up. He produced, directed and shot videos for Debbie Poole.
