The band's personnel was Odell Brown, Hammond organ, Artee "Duke" Payne and Tommy Purvis, tenor saxophones, and Curtis Prince, drums.
While at Chess, Brown was not only signed to the label but also worked as a staff musician playing and arranging for a wealth of other artists and gaining great insight and expertise into other styles of music.
After the death of Leonard Chess in 1969, Brown decided not to re-sign with the label and during the 1970s, pursued a solo career as an independent arranger, producer and studio musician.
During this period, he worked with artists such as Minnie Riperton (with whom he arranged and conducted an album on Epic Records), Curtis Mayfield, Johnny Nash, and Marvin Gaye (both live and in the studio).
[3][4] With Dorothy Ashby With Cleveland Eaton With Richard Evans With Marvin Gaye With Eddie Harris With Minnie Riperton With Sonny Stitt and Bunky Green