Milton James Bland (October 3, 1930 – July 3, 1986), better known as Monk Higgins, was an American composer, producer, arranger, tenor

saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of Single-reed instrument, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed (mouthpi ...

, keyboardist, and music executive born in Menifee, Arkansas.

Biography

Milton James Bland was 6'3" and played football.Payne, Doug.
Monk Higgins
, ''Sound Insights''. July 20, 2009. Accessed February 10, 2025. Later in life, he turned down an offer to coach football at his alma mater

Arkansas State University Arkansas State University (A-State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States. It is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System and the second-largest university in the st ...

. While at ASU, Bland majored in

music theory Music theory is the study of theoretical frameworks for understanding the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory": The first is the "Elements of music, ...

and orchestration. He taught high school music in Hayti, Missouri before he continued his studies at the Chicago School of Music. He also earned a living as a social worker and a school teacher. In 1962, he joined the

Artists and repertoire Artists and repertoire (or A&R for short) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for scouting, financing, and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and songwriters. It also acts as a l ...

department of One-derful Records. In 1965, Bland moved to Dick Simon's Satellite Record Company where he was the director of A&R and the principal producer.

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock an ...

was their distributor. He also wrote arrangements with

Burgess Gardner Burgess LaMarr Gardner (April 12, 1936 – November 20, 2021) was an American jazz musician, educator, and composer. He played the trumpet with jazz legends such as Count Basie, Horace Silver, and Louie Bellson, Ray Charles; as of 2003, the Bur ...

and became one of the architects of Chicago's hard-soul sound.Pruter, Robert. ''Chicago Soul''.

University of Illinois Press The University of Illinois Press (UIP) is an American university press and is part of the University of Illinois System. Founded in 1918, the press publishes some 120 new books each year, thirty-three scholarly journals, and several electroni ...

, 1992. He worked briefly at

in 1967. He worked with Holly Maxwell at Star Records and

Junior Wells Junior Wells (born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr.; December 9, 1934January 15, 1998) was an American singer, harmonica player, and recording artist. He is best known for his signature song " Messin' with the Kid" and his 1965 album '' Hoodoo Man Blues ...

at Bright Star. In the mid 60s, Milton Bland adopted the moniker "Monk Higgins". He would use it for the bulk of his career; although, he did resume use of his birth name towards the end of his life. Higgins's biggest

hits Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block * ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998 * ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014, a British compilation album s ...

were the

instrumental An instrumental or instrumental song is music without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through Semantic change, semantic widening, a broader sense of the word s ...

tracks "Who-Dun-It?" (which reached #30 on the US

R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

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 Gene Harris (born Eugene Haire, September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz. From 1956 to 1970, he played in The Three Sounds tri ...

Bobby Bland Robert Calvin Bland (born Robert Calvin Brooks; January 27, 1930 – June 23, 2013), known professionally as Bobby "Blue" Bland, was an American blues singer. Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B. He was describ ...

, The Chi-Lites,

, Freddy Robinson,

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who was an important figure in the post-World War II blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of moder ...

, Cash McCall,

Etta James Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter. Starting her career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's R&B clubs, collectively known as the Ch ...

, Blue Mitchell and The 3 Sounds. Higgins' 1968 move to Los Angeles was prompted by the offer to orchestrate strings for

Nina Simone Nina Simone ( ; born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, pianist, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and po ...

's '' Gifted & Black''. He soon began working on other projects like

Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophone, tenor saxophonist and record producer. He began his career playing R&B for Earl Bostic and later soul jazz recording for the Blue Note Reco ...

's ''Flipped-Flipped Out'' and The 3 Sounds' '' Elegant Soul''. He wrote most of the material for Blue Mitchell's '' Collision in Black'' and also released a solo album, ''Monk Higgins in Macarthur Park''. In 1970, Higgins formed his own label named Stonegood. In 1975, he composed the music for the

Pam Grier Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress, singer, and martial artist. Described by Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star, she achieved fame for her starring roles in a string of 1970s action, blaxploitati ...

film '' Sheba, Baby''. In the 70s, he worked extensively in television advertising. Higgins wrote

jingle A jingle is a short song or tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. Jingles are a form of sound branding. A jingle contains one or more hooks and meanings that explicitly promote the product or service being advertised, usually ...

s for

Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...

and Mogen David. In 1976, he joined

Al Bell Al Bell (born Alvertis Isbell; March 15, 1940) is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive. He is best known as having been an executive and co-owner of Stax Records with Jim Stewart based in Memphis, Tennessee, during the ...

's newly formed label Independent Corp. of America.Williams, Jean.
Soul Sauce: Bell's Back and Moving With a Label
, ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

''. December 18, 1976. 46. In the 80s, his band 'The Specialties' were the featured artists at Marla Gibb's jazz club in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. His wife, Virgina P. Bland, was also a composer. She was often credited as "Vee Pea" on his records. She then got pregnant and had three daughters: Joan, June, and Janesse.Heise, Kenan. "Musician, Composer Monk Higgins, 50." ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

''. July 16, 1986. A6. On July 3, 1986, Higgins died from a respiratory ailment at Centinela Hospital in

Inglewood, California Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city had a population of 107,762. ...

.Monk Higgins, 50, Record Producer and Saxophonist
, ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

''. July 12, 1986.

Discography

As leader

45 rpm 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 Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...

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, 1969) * ''Heavyweight'' (

United Artists United Artists (UA) is an American film production and film distribution, distribution company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, it was founded in February 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford an ...

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)

As producer and sideman

. '' Call My Name'' (1967); producer. * Blue Mitchell. '' Collision in Black'' (1968); producer, composer, arranger, tenor saxophone, piano, organ. * The Three Sounds. '' Elegant Soul'' (1968); producer, composer, arranger, conductor. * Jimmy McCracklin. ''The Stinger Man'' (1969); producer, composer, arranger, conductor, piano, organ. * Blue Mitchell. '' Bantu Village'' (1969); composer, arranger, conductor, piano, percussion. * Freddy Robinson. ''The Coming Atlantis'' (1969); producer, conductor, arranger, organ. * The 3 Sounds. '' Soul Symphony'' (1969); producer, composer, arranger, conductor. * Freddy Robinson. ''Hot Fun In The Summertime'' (1970); producer, conductor, arranger. *

. '' The 3 Sounds'' (1971); composer, arranger, organ. * Freddy Robinson. ''Off the Cuff'' (1973); producer, arranger, conductor, electric piano. *

, ''Come Fly With Me'' (1978); producer, arranger. *

, ''I Feel Good, I Feel Fine'' (1979); producer, conductor, arranger. *

, ''Sweet Vibrations'' (1980); producer, conductor, arranger, piano. *

, ''Try Me, I'm Real'' (1981); producer, piano. *

, ''Tell Mr. Bland'' (1983); producer, conductor, arranger, percussion.‡ *Who-Dun-It, ''You're a Winner'' (1985); producer, conductor, tenor saxophone.+ +As Milton Bland ‡As both Milton Bland and Monk Higgins

In popular culture

In 1987, "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)", from Higgins' 1974 LP ''Dance to the Disco Sax'', was featured on the

breakbeat Breakbeat is a broad type of electronic music that uses drum breaks, often sampled from early recordings of funk, jazz, and R&B. Breakbeats have been used in styles such as Florida breaks, hip-hop, jungle, drum and bass, big beat, breakbeat ...

series Series may refer to: People with the name * Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series * George Series (1920–1995), English physicist Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Series, the ordered sets used i ...

'' Ultimate Breaks and Beats'' (SBR 517). Higgin's 1968 cover of " Little Green Apples" on '' Extra Soul Perception'' was sampled in

Gang Starr Gang Starr was an American Hip-hop, hip hop duo, consisting of Houston-born record producer DJ Premier and Boston-based rapper Guru (rapper), Guru. Gang Starr was at its height from 1989 to 2003, and is considered a widely influential MC-and-pr ...

's " Code of the Streets" (1994). For "Bad Boy No Go a Jail" on the '' Clockers'' soundtrack,

Mega Banton Mega Banton (born Garth Williams, 1974) is a Jamaican dancehall deejay who came to prominence in the early 1990s. Biography Williams was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973.Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Boo ...

sampled Higgins' "Sittin' Duck" from '' Elegant Soul'' by The 3 Sounds. Higgins received renewed attention in 2024 after

Mustard Mustard may refer to: Food and plants * Mustard (condiment), a paste or sauce made from mustard seeds used as a condiment * Mustard plant, one of several plants, having seeds that are used for the condiment ** Mustard seed, small, round seeds of ...

sampled Sample or samples may refer to: * Sample (graphics), an intersection of a color channel and a pixel * Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of something * Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal * Sample ...

two songs from his 1968 LP ''MacArthur Park'': the title track and a cover of

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...

' "I Believe to My Soul". Mustard used the samples in beats he sold to

Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first music ...

. A snippet of "MacArthur Park" appears in Lamar's " TV Off", and the horn fanfares in "I Believe to My Soul" form one of the audio signatures in "

Not Like Us "Not Like Us" is a diss track by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar amidst Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud, his highly publicized feud with the Canadian rapper Drake (musician), Drake. Released on May 4, 2024, through Interscope Records, it broke ...

".Zoladz, Lindsay (November 26, 2024).
Digging Into Kendrick Lamar's Samples
. The New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2024.

References