Producer Alphonso 'Fonce' Mizell dies

[MrScorpio]

Rest In Peace.

By CHRISTOPHER MORRIS
Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell, producer of early hits by the Jackson 5 and pace-setting albums by trumpeter Donald Byrd and disco act A Taste of Honey, died July 11 of unknown causes. He was 68.

Born in Englewood, NJ, and educated at Howard University, Mizell broke in at the top at Motown Records as a member of the Corporation, the production team that also included label owner Berry Gordy Jr. and songwriter-producers Freddie Perren (Mizell's Howard classmate) and Deke Richards. The Corporation scored a trifecta of No. 1 pop and R&B singles with the Jacksons -- "I Want You Back," "ABC" and "The Love You Save" - in 1970, and also helmed the lesser 1971 J5 hits "Mama's Pearl" and "Maybe Tomorrow."

After the Corporation dissolved in 1972, Mizell began working with his older brother Larry. The Mizell Brothers hit immediate pay dirt with "Black Byrd," first of a series of sleek jazz fusion albums for Blue Note by veteran brass player Byrd. That title, which reached No. 36 nationally, was succeeded by the Mizells' productions "Street Lady" (No. 33, 1974), "Stepping Into Tomorrow" (No. 42, 1975), "Places and Space" (No. 49, 1975) and "Caricatures" (No. 60, 1977). They also produced the 1974 debut of Byrd's R&B spinoff outfit the Blackbyrds.

The Mizells also worked with the Jacksons and Michael Jackson, as well as such other Motown acts as the Miracles and Edwin Starr. On the jazz side, they produced singer-flautist Bobbi Humphrey, organist Johnny Hammond and saxophonist Gary Bartz.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118039777

My Little Girl - Bobbi Humphrey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VulOAgawKdc


Donald Byrd - Places & Spaces
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Rn1EZJ79Q


Gary Bartz - Music Is My Sanctuary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqTex9wfKW0


Johnny Hammond - Tell Me What To Do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuUWt48IeAw


A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvIydHPhb98


Marvin Gaye & The Mizell Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWClNjU-aj0

[MrScorpio]

1. Madlib - Distant Land

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQcuwVLx01o

[MrScorpio]

2. Madlib - Stepping Into Tomorrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M1UJmfQ-Kk&NR=1

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3. Bobbi Humphrey - Harlem River Drive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i_Ja2sVw1g

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4. Bobbi Humphrey - Satin Doll

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnz-c4nTbjU

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5. Donald Byrd - Fallin' Like Dominoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkLrMcYuc3E

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6. The Blackbyrds - Hash and Eggs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3TER_xM3vM

[MrScorpio]

7. Edwin Starr - Easin' In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOBh4NZ4wZQ

[MrScorpio]

8. Brenda Lee Eager - When I'm With You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewC8hhuCmPE

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9. Johnny Hammond - Gamblers Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLYAYMmiZ8U

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12. Erykah Badu - Booty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1-dWqqy1A8

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10. Gary Bartz - Gentle Smiles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKqM723kibM

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11. A Tribe Called Quest - Butter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB9PiW68yQg

[MrScorpio]

13. Bobbi Humphrey - You make me feel so good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcyOF8Ktus8

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14. The Jackson 5 - Ooh, I'd Love to Be With You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MPoI1lt4VM

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15. Donald Byrd - You Are The World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm4xUrVRO38

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16. Johnny Hammond - Shifting Gears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3VNOcjFVSQ

[MrScorpio]

17. Hieroglyphics - See Delight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2xJLbgELKs