TRANSITIONS | Charles McCormick, Bassist And Lead Singer Of Bloodstone

The R&B/Soul Group Bloodstone has been around since the early 60’s, but has been an important part of R&B and Pop Music history since the release of “Natural High” back in 1973, the iconic song, lead by bassist and lead singer, Charles McCormick, topped the R&B and Pop Charts on it’s way to going Gold then Platinum, cementing the group in music history. We were recently informed that McCormick has passed away.

The group formed on the local scene in Kansas City as “The Sinceres” (a self contained vocal/instrumental group), band founders Harry Williams, Charles McCormick, Charles Love, Willis Draffen, Roger Durham, Melvin Webb, Hense Powell and Kenneth Smith took their unique sound to stages across their native Kansas City, crossing racial boundaries and working to establish harmony both on and off stage. The band honed its skills and crafted what became the distinctive BLOODSTONE sound before striking out for London, England, in 1972 where they were signed to Decca Records. The groups music was released stateside on Motown.

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Bloodstone’s other hits include “Never Let You Go”, “Outside Woman” and “My Little Lady”. Bloodstone was instrumental in the “black rock” and funk movement of the 1970s, and even played a role in the brown-eyed-soul movement with some Latin-tinged hits. Bloodstone performed with a virtual who’s who of stellar performers over the years.

In recent years McCormick continued the group with Harry Williams and Donald Brown and has also recorded a few songs outside of Bloodstone as a single artist. We have included a couple of those solo recordings below. Our condolences to the family.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jSAZzWE6YaM%3Ffeature%3Doembedhttps%3A