Keyboard player and veteran of Baltimore based groups We Four Trio, Variations, Brockingtons, United Chair, Magic Force… His groups traveled extensively across the country. Julius played with many musicians including Buddy Miles, Jimi Hendrix, Earth, Wind & Fire, War, Diana Ross…
As a producer Julius worked with many groups including artists on the Today / Perception family of labels where he was head of A&R department in mid-‘70s. Locally he produced Gospel artists Sherry Hunt, Larry Hilton, James White, Travelaires, Joe White & the Gospel Flames, Queen Esther, Thorns Trio… He also produced rock groups including the King Harvest 1974 release “Celestial Navigator” b/w “Angels of Mercy” (Perception 556), and Bobby Rydell’s 1974 single “Everything Seemed Better When I Was Young” b/w “Sunday Son” (Perception 552).
Julius released two albums and two singles on Today Records. “Sophisticated Funk” in 1972 with The United Chair (see bio). His 1973 album “United Chair” featured Brockington (keyboards) with Gary Langston (guitar), Marcell Turner (bass), Steve Turner (sax, flute), Jim Wilson (trumpet), and Ralph Fisher (drums).
After a five-year association with Today / Perception Records in Philadelphia, David Smith (sax), and Rodney Curtis (bass) joined and the group became Magic Force (1975-77).
Julius and Magic Force released two singles on his Burman label. The second Burman release is a remix version of “This Feeling.”
Rodney Curtis and Timothy Moore went on to play with George Clinton. Smith also worked with O’Donel Levy, Jimmy McGriff, Ethel Ennis… In the ‘00s he performed with Swing Central. Steve Turner later released a solo album, co-produced by Julius. Brockington embarked on a Gospel music career and continued to perform in the ‘00s.
Record releases by Julius Brockington include:
1972(LP) Today 1006 Sophisticated Funk
1972 Today 1509 Let’s Stay Together
1973(LP) Today 1009 The United Chair
1973 Today 1523 Jaded Jackie / In the Back of The Churchyard
1974 Burman 4211 This Feeling / Cosmic Force
1974 Burman 401 “This Feeling” (Freedom) Pt 1 / Pt. 2
1982(LP) Cheri Prayer Lamp
In 1977 after the group Magic Force split up, Julius embarked on a Gospel music career which continued into the ‘00s. With his Ensemble & His Ladies of Manna they released a single “Jesus” b/w “Sinner’s Prayer” (G.M.S. 4645) from the LP “Praise Him” (Grace Memorial Recordings 4566). The Brockington’s family group The Family Tree released a gospel album in 1979 titled “God Is Big Enough” (ALA 902).
In addition to producing local artists at his Joel-Micah Music Productions, Julius performed with his group for weekly church services as a minister at the Manna Bible Baptist Church in Baltimore, Julius released numerous LP’s including: “Praise Him” (as the Julius Brockington Ensemble), “Prayer Lamp” (as the Julius Brockington Ensemble), “Isaiah”, “In the Light of His Word”, “The Will of God,” and the 2002 release “Take a Look Around You.”
