Soul group included musicians from Cherry Hill to Walbrook Junction areas. Prior to Chocolate Rain some of the members had been in a backing band for Jimmy Briscoe & the Little Beavers including Howard Burns (sax), Henry McLain (sax), Ronnie Smith (guitar), and Gerald Phillips (bass).
Managed by Clyde Otis ‘Kibwe’ Miller the group members went by their Arabic names and adopting the surname, Bahij. The original Chocolate Rain line-up consisted of vocalists / percussionists Quincy ‘Bahaji’ Speaks, Garrett ‘Lumumba’ Keen, and Julius ‘Kamau’ Matthews. The brass section included Howard ‘Din’ Burns (tenor sax), Henry ‘Jaja’ McLain (alto sax), and Stacy ‘Kenya’ Saunders (trombone). The rhythm section was Bertram ‘Kala’ King (guitar), Kevin ‘Kenyatta’ Boone (bass), Woodrow ‘Setiu’ Covington (piano), Warren ‘Mugo’ Lee (drums), and Jonathan ‘Machuri’ Waters (drums, percussion, vocals). Guitarist Wilbur Williams, keyboardist Weasel (ex-Jamal), Steve Parrish, and vocalists Irving Basfield, and Moe C. were also later members. The group got together and practiced nightly at Speaks’ house on Forest Park Avenue.
Burns explains that the tight brotherhood of the members was key to their success. “It was all about the music” and they worked hard to develop their sound. The group played hit R&B sounds such as Earth Wind & Fire, and Mandrill, while also writing and producing their own original material.
Chocolate Rain competed in many battles of the bands held at the American Legion Hall (with a revolving stage) on Broadway & Orleans Streets. They performed at the Embassy Club, Ambassador Room, Checkerboard Lounge, Coppin State, Morgan State, countless high school dances and proms… The group also made several television appearances including the Maria Broom Show, the Kerby Scott Show, and Moonman’s “Soul of the City” television show which used a Chocolate Rain original as the theme song.
Around 1975 the group shortened their name to Rain and continued to play locally and record. Rain released two singles in the mid-’70s.
May 1977
Rain at Woodlawn Senior High School – 1978
Burns went on to join D.C. group the Blackbyrds. In the ‘00s he taught music while still performing part-time with a jazz quartet and with a 17-piece big band based in Western Maryland. Saunders became a backing singer for Walter Jackson.
A 1992 reunion failed to materialize, however three former members reunited to form a vocal trio they called Nu-Rain. Members were Stacy ‘Kenya’ Saunders, Henry ‘Ja-Ja’ McClain, and Irving Basfield who also acted as music director, arranger, and programmer of backtracks.
1976 Bahij Family 7 S-513 Good Vibration / Get on Your Job
1976 H&L 4675 Get on Your Job / (instr.)
