Anthony Harley

Anthony Harley Sr (September 26, 1963 – May 30, 2010), better known by his stage name Little Benny, was an American trumpet player, who was a part of the Washington D.C.-based go-go band Rare Essence. He was named by Kevin Kato Hammond (founder of Take Me Out to the Go Go magazine) as one of the founding fathers of the genre.^[1][2]

Early life

Harley was born on September 26, 1963 in Washington D.C. His father Frank Harley sang in a band called "Bell Chorda". He grew up playing the electric guitar, but soon grew enamored by the trumpet. As Little Benny once said, "I saw this guy playing a horn in the parking lot and told him, let me see that thing. How do you play this?" ^[1][2]

Go-Go music scene

Harley was a senior at Ballou Senior High School in Southeast, Washington, D.C. when go-go music emerged on the scene. Washington D.C. based funk and go-go artist Chuck Brown is considered the founder of the genre, which included incessant beats and the use of conga drums, cow bells and call-and-response chants. Go-go gained widespread attention in the late-70s with the song "Bustin' Loose". After Brown went on tour, other bands popped up in and around the Washington metropolitan area. Harley joined Rare Essence in 1974, who were originally called The Young Dynamos. Harley's band, Rare Essence, was one of the most notable go-go bands and is considered to be an influential force in the genre. "When you look at go-go from a historical standpoint, Little Benny, he stands out as one of the founding fathers. Chuck Brown laid the foundation, but Rare Essence — and Benny was part of it during that time — built the house," said Kato Hammond, founder and editor of Take Me Out to the Go Go magazine. "Little Benny & the Masters" had one huge go-go hit "Who Come to Boogie" in 1984, studio albums The Cat In the Hat in 1987 and Gett Your Drink On in 1997, and live album Live at the Cafe in 2000. Harley was known for his energetic stage presence, his powerful voice, and the ability to play two trumpets at once.^[1][2]

Later career

Harley left Rare Essence in the mid-80s to form another group called Little Benny & the Masters. He later played with the go-go band Proper Utensils and had several reunions with original members of Rare Essence. Later in life, he played often with Chuck Brown, including a show in Washington the night before his death. He died on May 30, 2010 at his brother's home in Washington D.C.^[1][2]

References