Pure Essence

Pure Essence
Origin	Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Genres	Funk, R&B, soul, rock
Years active	1973-1982
Labels	Mantra, Soul Cal
Past members	Steve "Tuck" Walters Jerome "Mouse" Richmond Antonio "L.A." Reid Kevin "Kayo" Roberson Toby Rivers Tony Coats Dwight Trible Larry Middleton

Pure Essence were an American R&B band from Cincinnati, Ohio, originally consisting of Steve "Tuck" Walters, Jerome "Mouse" Richmond, Toby Rivers, Tony Coats, Dwight Trible, Larry Middleton, Antonio "L.A." Reid, and Kevin "Kayo" Roberson. The band released only one record, in 1976, and achieved limited regional fame during their tenure. But they received wider attention and acclaim nearly three decades later after one of their songs, "Third Rock", was sampled by producer/musician RJD2 on the track "Clean Living" (2004). The group's songs later appeared on the Chrome Children compilation album (2005), the Saints Row 2 video game soundtrack (2008), and the Soul Cal: Funky Disco & Modern Soul, 1971–82 compilation album (2012). A 2006 issue of The Fader called Pure Essence a "crucial soul-rock outfit" of the 1970s.

When Steve "Tuck" Walters and Jerome "Mouse" Richmond joined Cincinnati band Mother's Pride in the early-mid 1970s, they helped lead the group into a different musical direction, as well as a name change, to Pure Essence. Pure Essence was influenced by such acts as Sly And The Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Yes, and contemporary local artists including Jimi Macon and Bootsy Collins.

Former baseball player Dave Parker, then of the Pittsburgh Pirates, partially banked the group which helped them to record some songs in the studio.Antonio "L.A." Reid, the band's drummer, recalled: "We took one song ('Wake Up') to WCIN and they played it, and another ('Third Rock') went to a WEBN album project. I was 18 and I had songs on both stations." Reid noted that "Third Rock" was added to WEBN's playlist where "it became a local hit."

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