Monk Higgins

Monk Higgins
Higgins c. 1967
Background information
Birth name	Milton Bland
Born	(1930-10-03)October 3, 1930 Menifee, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	July 3, 1986(1986-07-03) (aged 55) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, blues, crossover, jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Saxophone
Years active	1950–1986
Labels	Buddah Records

Milton Bland (October 3, 1930 – July 3, 1986), better known as Monk Higgins, was an American saxophonist born in Menifee, Arkansas.[1]

Biography

Higgins's biggest hits were the instrumental tracks "Who-Dun-It?" (which reached #30 on the US R&B chart in 1966), and "Gotta Be Funky" (#22 on the US R&B chart in 1972). His instrumental "Ceatrix Did It" (1966) was the sign-off song for soul-DJ 'Dr. Rock' on WMPP, East Chicago Heights, Illinois. Higgins worked with a variety of musicians including Gene Harris, Bobby Bland, The Chi-Lites, Junior Wells, Freddy Robinson, Muddy Waters, Cash McCall, Etta James, Blue Mitchell and The Three Sounds.[1] His track "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)" (from the LP Dance to the Disco Sax) was featured on the breakbeat compilation album, Ultimate Breaks and Beats.

Late in his career, Higgins performed with his band 'The Specialties' as the featured artists at television actress Marla Gibbs's Los Angeles, California supper club, known as 'Marla's Memory Lane'.

Higgins died from respiratory disease in July 1986, in Los Angeles, at the age of 55.[1]

Discography

As leader

45rpm singles

• "Sawdust" / "The Fat Man" (Earth 500, 1965)
• "Mister Luckee" / "Ain't That Hateful" (Satellite 2010, 1966)
• "Who-Dun-It?" / "These Days Are Filled With You" (St. Lawrence 1013, 1966)
• "Now That's Sayin' Sumpin'" / "Easy Does It" (St. Lawrence 1016, 1966)
• "What Fah" / "Ceatrix Did It" (St. Lawrence 1022, 1966)
• "Different Strokes (For Different Folks)" / "How Come?" (Chess 1998, 1967)
• "Comin' Up The Middle" / "Monkin' Around" (Chess 2025, 1967)
• "Yesterday" / "The Look Of Love" (Chess 2034, 1967)
• "Mac Arthur Park" / "Vee Pea" (Dunhill 4139, 1968)
• "Watermelon Man" / "Extra Soul Perception" (Solid State 2525, 1968)
• "I'll Still Be There" / "Baby You're Right" (Sack 711, 1970)
• "Arkansas Yard Bird" / "I'll Still Be There" (Sundi 317, 1971)
• "Gotta Be Funky" / "Big Water Bed" (United Artists 50897, 1972)
• "Treat Her Like A Lady" / "Two In One" (United Artists 50936, 1972)

LP albums

• Mac Arthur Park (Dunhill 50036, 1968)
• Extra Soul Perception (Solid State 18046, 1968)
• Heavyweight (United Artists 5592, 1972)
• Little Mama (United Artists LA005, 1972)
• Dance to the Disco Sax of Monk Higgins (Buddah 5619, 1974)
• Sheba, Baby (Buddah 5634, 1975) with Alex Brown
• Live in Mac Arthur Park (Buddah, 1975)[2]

As sideman

With Blue Mitchell

• Collision in Black (1968)
• Bantu Village (1969)

With The Three Sounds

• Elegant Soul (1968)
• Soul Symphony (1969)

With Gene Harris

• The 3 Sounds (1971)

In popular culture

Higgins received renewed attention in 2024 after his recordings of Ray Charles' "I Believe to My Soul" and Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park", both from Higgins' 1968 Mac Arthur Park LP, were sampled in rapper Kendrick Lamar's hit songs "Not Like Us" and "TV Off", respectively.[3]

See also

• Jazz
• Jazz funk
• R&B

References

1. Doc Rock. "The 1980s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
2. "Monk Higgins | Discography". AllMusic. 1986-07-03. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
3. "Producer Of The Year Nominee Mustard Talks "Not Like Us," Kendrick & Always Being A "10" | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2025-01-30.