A UK DJ Is Crowdfunding To Pay Back The Most Sampled Drummer In History

Sometimes the internet can be used for good. Sometimes.

February 27, 2015

"Amen, Brother", a late '60s single from funk band The Winstons, features a quick drum break that served as a core loop for thousands of songs across genres and eras. It's a loop so ubiquitous one would assume it were public domain, but there were human hands on those sticks. Winstons drummer Cylvester "G. C." Coleman has passed, but lead singer and arranger Richard L. Spencer has lived to see a drum part he wrote himself pop up hit singles, commercials, and TV theme songs. Now, UK DJ Martyn Webster has launched a GoFundMe account to raise as much money as he can for Spencer, expecting nothing in return. "Please be aware, this is in no way a means to try to chase royalties, fees or to pay for sample clearance," Webster explained. "It is nothing more than a gesture of good will and obviously totally volentary [sic]." The GoFundMe has already raised almost £15,000 since being created on February 18, 2015, you can donate here today.

A UK DJ Is Crowdfunding To Pay Back The Most Sampled Drummer In History