The Average White Band

Average White Band
Average White Band in 2013
Background information
Also known as	AWB
Origin	Dundee, Scotland
Genres	Blue-eyed soul, funk, rock, soul, disco
Years active	1972–1983 1989–present
Labels	Atlantic, RCA, MCA, Rhino, Arista
Associated acts	Arif Mardin, Ned Doheny, Tower of Power
Members	Alan Gorrie Onnie McIntyre Fred Vigdor Rocky Bryant Brent Carter Rob Aries
Past members	Roger Ball Malcolm "Molly" Duncan Robbie McIntosh Michael Rosen Hamish Stuart Steve Ferrone Eliot Lewis Alex Ligertwood Tiger McNeil Peter Abbott Fred "Catfish" Alias Adam Deitch Brian Dunne Klyde Jones Morris Pleasure Monte Croft

Average White Band (also AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track "Pick Up the Pieces", and their albums AWB and Cut the Cake. The band name was initially proposed by Bonnie Bramlett. They have influenced others such as the Brand New Heavies, and been sampled by various musicians including the Beastie Boys, TLC, The Beatnuts, Too Short, Ice Cube, Eric B. & Rakim, Nas, and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as Arrested Development – making them the 15th most sampled act in history. As of 2016, 40 years after their formation, they continue to perform.

AWB was formed in early 1972 by Alan Gorrie, and Malcolm "Molly" Duncan, with Onnie McIntyre, Michael Rosen (trumpet), Roger Ball, and Robbie McIntosh joining them in the original line-up. Hamish Stuart quickly replaced Rosen. Duncan and Ball, affectionately known as the Dundee Horns, studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art (now part of the University of Dundee, but which at the time was part of the Dundee Institute of Art and Technology, now known as Abertay University), and were previously members of Mogul Thrash. Gorrie and McIntyre had been members of Forever More. McIntyre and McIntosh were used as session musicians on Chuck Berry's recording of "My Ding-a-Ling".