The band was conceived by brothers Stony Browder Jr. (February 7, 1949 – October 6, 2001) and Thomas Browder (also known as
August Darnell, born August 12, 1950), with the former writing music and the latter lyrics. They started the band in 1974 with singer Cory Daye (born April 25, 1952), drummer Mickey Sevilla, and percussionist Andy Hernandez (
Coati Mundi). They released three albums between 1976 and 1979. Their music blended disco beats with rhythms from genres including
calypso,
rhumba,
cha-cha-chá, and
compas. The Browders, who were both multiracial, wrote songs embracing
multiculturalism over stories about
tragic mulattoes. A smaller lineup known as Dr. Buzzard's Savannah Band (omitting the word "original") also released a fourth album in 1984. They were frequent performers at
Studio 54. Darnell and Hernandez went on to form
Kid Creole and the Coconuts and
Elbow Bones and the Racketeers. Cory Daye also pursued a successful solo career. In 1979, she released the album
Cory and Me. The album produced a single, "Pow Wow" b/w Green Light", which peaked on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100 at #76 ==Copyright lawsuit==