Osiris

Osiris operated as a little-known soul and funk ensemble in Washington, D.C., during the closing years of the 1970s, fronted by vocalist Osiris Marsh. Sly & the Family Stone and Funkadelic shaped the group’s sound, while its fascination with ancient Egyptian themes mirrored the approach taken by Earth, Wind & Fire. The ensemble issued its sole long-player, Since Before Our Time, through Warner Bros. in 1979; scant notice greeted the release, prompting the label to drop Osiris, which disbanded before completing any follow-up recording. Alongside Marsh, the lineup featured bassists Tony Jones and Tyrone Brunson, keyboardist Maceo Bond, saxophonist Ron Holloway, guitarist Brent Mingle, drummer Kenny Jones, and percussionist Jimmy “Sha Sha” Stapleton. Holloway subsequently concentrated on jazz, cutting multiple hard-bop sets for Milestone/Fantasy throughout the 1990s.