Mother Braintree

Cleveland, 1973-1980

Mother Braintree were one of Cleveland's top soul/funk bands from the mid 1970s. They started around 1972/3 and ended around 1980.

The band was led by guitarist Larry Ross and included Tracy Pruitt (bass), James Endsley (drums), Pierre DeMudd (trumpet), Rasool Carey (sax, flute, clarinet), Watson Vaughn (fluegelhorn, 2nd trumpet) and Ulysses Young (trombone). In 1978 Carl Slaughter was a member. An online post mentions Wayne Preston as a member. 

They played many of Cleveland's clubs, and ran their own club and restaurant for awhile, Mother Braintree's Concertorium. The address was 7030 Euclid Ave. The club was around for late 1974 into 1976. An explosion in the restaurant happened in July 1976.

They played at least a couple high profile opening shows, one being with the Staples Singers and Barry White/Love Unlimited (September 21, 1973, Public Hall) and the other with Bloodstone (March 10, 1974, Allen Theatre).

A 1981 story in the Call and Post mentions the Eclipse Band, which was claimed to be Mother Braintree under a new name. Mother Braintree was listed as peforming at a 1983 event, but no more details.

In 2017, a UK record label, Super Disco Edits, released a 45 of two recordings dating from 1973, per the label. According to a promotional blurb, the songs were recorded at Selma studios in Cleveland. The band also recorded, or had mastering done, at Cleveland Recording in the 1973./4 timeline.

Pierre DeMudd joined the Dazz Band.

Discography
Sailing / Let Me Stay Beside You - Kinsman no #, released 2017, recorded 1973