Jonzun Crew

Jonzun Crew was an American electro and early funk–hip hop group that was active in the 1980s.[1] The group was led by Michael Jonzun, his brothers Maurice Starr and Soni Jonzun, and Carl (Captain Fingers).

Jonzun Crew
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, United States
GenresElectro, funk, hip hop
Years active1981–1990
LabelsTommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
A&M Records
Critique Records
Associated actsPlanet Patrol
Arthur Baker
Afrika Bambaataa
New Edition
New Kids on the Block
MembersMaurice Starr
Soni Jonzun
Past membersMichael Jonzun
Gordon Worthy
Steve Thorpe

Overview

The group's most famous tracks, “Pack Jam (Look out for the OVC),” “Space is the Place,” and “Space Cowboy” were featured on the group's debut album, Lost in Space (1983). Other notable tracks included “We Are the Jonzun Crew” and “Ground Control.” The group's sound was particularly unique because all of the synthesizer parts were played live as opposed to sequenced, and despite using drum-machine hits in its tracks, most of the group's songs used a live drummer as the main drum track, giving its songs a unique groove and swing compared to most electro music of the era.[2]

Jonzun Crew was an electro group that carried its spin on Parliament-Funkadelic's loopy sci-fi themes of Afro-futurism throughout the 1980s and early 1990s for a handful of albums, which included singles such as “Pack Jam (Look Out for the OVC),” “Space is the Place,” “Space Cowboy,” and “We are the Jonzun Crew.” Florida-born brothers Michael, Soni, and Larry Johnson (better known as Maurice Starr) formed the Jonzun Crew in Boston in 1981, with Gordy Worthy and Steve Thorpe filling out the lineup for different stretches of the group's existence. Starr and Michael would gain further notoriety for helping to bring New Edition and New Kids on the Block to the world; Michael (who continued using Jonzun as his last name) also went solo for a brief period on A&M, in addition to working on several other artists' releases.

In 1986, Michael Jonzun left the group.

Cultural impact

“Pack Jam (Look out for the OVC)” was often played in the background while the rundown of top hits in Germany were counted on the German-language Top Hits show Formel Eins during the 1980s.

By 1987, the Berlin Wall featured a block long graffiti mural immortalizing Jonzun Crew.[3]

In 1998, Tommy Boy Records issued a remix of "Pack Jam" by Grooverider as part of its Greatest Beats Remix series.

Discography

Albums
  • Lost in Space (1983)
  • Down to Earth (1984)
  • Cosmic Love (1990)

Singles
  • "Pack Jam" (1982) - (US No. 108, R&B No. 13, GER No. 19)
  • "Space Cowboy" (1983) - (UK No. 88)[4]
  • "Space Is the Place" (1983)
  • "We Are the Jonzun Crew" (1983)
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References
  1. "Jonzun Crew, Space is the Place, Lost In Space, Pack Jam". Smack-dynamik.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  2. "Jonzun Crew – We Are The Jonzun Crew + Pack Jam | 80s Electro Funk". Cold Crush. Archived from the original on 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  3. David Tompkins Secret Vocodering in Vibe, April 1999
  4. "JONZUN CREW | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
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