Clyde Alexander: The Soulful Force of 1970s Funk

Clyde Alexander was an American funk and soul singer and bandleader who fronted the dynamic group Clyde Alexander & Sanction. Hailing from Houston, Texas, the artist carved out a dedicated following in the 1970s with a raw, energetic sound that blended deep Southern soul with the era's burgeoning funk rhythms. His major achievement was the release of the cult classic album "Got To Find A Way," a record now highly sought-after by collectors of rare groove and funk.

Early career

Clyde Alexander formed his band, Sanction, in Houston during the early 1970s. The group quickly became a staple of the local club circuit, known for their tight, driving performances that captured the essence of Southern funk.

Their first recorded work emerged in 1974 with the single "Got To Find A Way" b/w "You've Got The Love," released on the local Ovide label. This initial 7-inch showcased their potent mix of gritty vocals, punchy horns, and a relentless groove, setting the template for their subsequent work.

Breakthrough

The band's breakthrough came with the 1975 release of their only full-length album, also titled "Got To Find A Way," on the Ovide imprint. While it did not achieve mainstream chart success, the album became a cornerstone of the rare funk scene, celebrated for its authentic, unpolished energy and dancefloor-ready tracks.

Decades after its original release, the album was rediscovered by DJs and collectors, leading to reissues that cemented its status as a classic within the genre. The original vinyl pressings are now considered prized items among aficionados of 1970s funk music.

Key tracks

Got To Find A Way — The title track and signature song is a masterclass in raw, mid-tempo funk with a hypnotic bassline and Alexander's impassioned vocal delivery.

You've Got The Love — This driving B-side showcases the band's tighter, more upbeat side and remains a favorite for funk DJs worldwide.

Check Me Out — A deep cut from the album that highlights the band's instrumental prowess and Alexander's commanding stage presence translated to record.

The legacy of Clyde Alexander & Sanction rests almost entirely on the strength of their 1975 album, as the band did not release further major recordings. Their music, however, experienced a significant revival in the 1990s and 2000s through sampling by hip-hop artists and inclusion on funk compilation albums. This reintroduced their sound to new generations of listeners fascinated by obscure, hard-hitting funk.

For fans of Southern-fried funk and soul from the same era, explore similar artists like The Bar-Kays who shared a similar blend of Memphis soul and explosive funk energy. The raw vocal style and gritty production can also be heard in the work of Johnnie Taylor, another master of Southern soul. Listeners appreciate the driving rhythms found in the music of The New Breed Band for their comparable underground funk appeal. The horn-heavy, dance-oriented sound also connects to the work of Tower Of Power, though with a more polished West Coast approach.

The music of Clyde Alexander maintains a steady rotation on specialist radio formats that celebrate funk history. His tracks are frequently featured on dedicated rare groove programs, classic soul stations, and online radio streams focused on the foundations of dance music.

You can hear the essential funk of Clyde Alexander on radio stations featured here on onairium.com, where classic tracks and deep cuts from the 1970s are regularly programmed for true music enthusiasts.