Album Notes

Levy, O'Donel 60's-00's
Jazz and R&B guitarist O'Donel Levy grew up in South Baltimore and
attended the Peabody Institute. He worked with Julius Brockington's
groups and toured throughout the east coast. While in New York Levy
hooked up with Jimmy McGriff and George Benson for whom he recorded and
toured. His first solo album was released in 1971 on the Groove
Merchant
label.
O'D's groups featured many talented Baltimore area musicians including
Aleta Greene (vocals-see-Tugboat, Bob Brown), Gary Grainger (bass),
David Smith (sax, flute), Jimmy Wilson (trumpet), Charles Covington
(keyboards), Jimmy Maelrn (percussion), Stafford Levy (drums), plus
large horn and strings sections in a group known as the Green Machine
for the 1976 LP "Windows."
Photo above by Chuck Stewart - 1972
Levy's 1977 LP "Time Has Changed" was recorded at Sheffield Studios and
featured Aleta Greene, Bob Wyatt (drums), Bob Butta (keyboards -see-
Sussex, Arlingtons, Exit), Marcel Turner (bass), David Smith (sax), and
Jimmy Wilson (trumpet). Drummer Chester Thompson also performed some of
Levy's recordings. Turner, Smith, and Wilson also had stints with the
groups United Chair and Magic Force. Wyatt, Smith, and Wilson were
previously with Essence.
Levy and Greene have since been featured performers at Baltimore
Artscape Festivals. Greene went on to sing for the Downstairs Band.
Butta went on to play for Both Worlds. Smith plays for Swing Central in
the 00's. Levy moved to Singapore in the early 90's. He continues to
perform, seen at various festivals including the Blues Fest in
Jonesboro, AR, the Montreaux Jazz Festival in France, the Idyllwild
Jazz
Festival in California, a January 2003 Tribute to Charlie Byrd at
Peabody...
O'D returned to the area in 2002 and set up a new studio where he
continues his commercial studio work and recordings of musical groups.
Levy performs weekly at Courtney's Place Restaraunt in Randallstown. A
new solo CD release is planned for 2003.
In addition to his solo recordings on Groove Merchant and LRC labels,
Levy can be heard on Jimmy McGriff albums including "Groove Grease,"
"Black Pearl," and a 2002 CD release of a 1972 concert with McGriff
"Friday The 13th Cook County Jail." His song "New Love" is included on
the 2002 CD "The Blues In...Singapore," and his song "In Walked Amy" is
included on the 2002 CD "Jazz In...Singapore." The 1973 LP "Simba" was
also released in the Quadrophonic format.
Singles by O'Donel Levy:
Groove Merchant 1001 Granny
Groove Merchant 1015 Baa Waa / Dawn Of The New Day
Groove Merchant 1027 Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky
Albums by O'Donel Levy:
1971 Groove Merchant 501 Black Velvet
1972 Groove Merchant 507 Breeding of Mind
1972 Groove Merchant 518 Dawn of a New Day
1973 Groove Merchant 526 Simba
1974 Groove Merchant 535 Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky
1976 Groove Merchant 3313 Windows
1976 Groove Merchant 4408 Hands of Fire
1976 LRC 9313 Windows
1977 LRC 9319 Time Has Changed
198? LP Through A Song