Personnel: Victor Angulo (guitar, vocals) Art Casado (drums, vocals), Chuck Francour (lead vocals, keyboards), Carlos Garcia (bass, vocals), Carl Driggs (lead vocals, percussion)
Originally formed in Miami Florida, the funk rock band Kracker moved to Chicago in the spring of 1971. Their sound, an amalgam of soulful funk with an undertone of Cuban rhythms, found a home in the city’s rock clubs scene. In early 1972, they went through a change of personnel which added Chuck Francour, and Carlos Garcia. Francour was originally from Indiana where he had worked with The Tradewinds and the Cambridge Five. Garcia had performed on hit records such as “Treat Her Like a Lady” by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (which topped the Billboard charts in 1971), and was also touring with Ramatam, the early 70’s rock group featuring guitarist Mike Pinera (Iron Butterfly/Blues Image) and drummer Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix).
With this new lineup, the band quickly caught the attention of the legendary producer Jimmy Miller, (Producer of Spencer Davis Group, Spooky Tooth, Traffic, Blind Faith, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones). Miller signed Kracker to an exclusive production contract which led to the group’s first record deal with ABC-Dunhill. The label invested in this latest Miller’s venture, and their debut album La Familia was released in what looked like a cigar box to complement the group’s Cuban roots. The band launched their unique sound at the Whisky a Go in Los Angeles, and their single “Because of You (The Sun Don’t Set)” started climbing up the charts.
In early 1973 while the Rolling Stones were recording their Goats Head Soup album in Jamaica, Miller turned Kracker on to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, resulting in a deal whereby the band’s second album Kracker Brand was licensed for distribution outside the U.S. by Rolling Stones Records, making Kracker the first band to be signed to the Stones’ private label; an accolade that resonated throughout the music business media.
As they prepared for an upcoming European Rolling Stones tour, Kracker was fortunate to survive a near fatal event. On August 3, 1973, as they were rehearsing on the ground floor of the Broadway Central Hotel. With little notice, the eight story building, when first built the largest hotel in the United States, had been deteriorating from age and suddenly collapsed. Four people were killed, but Kracker escaped unharmed. (Note: The incident was depicted on the HBO television series “Vinyl”)
Kracker’s association with the Stones continued and later that year the band moved to London and played throughout Europe as the opening act for the Rolling Stones 1973 European Tour. Here’s a video of their performance of “I’m So Glad I Found You” when they appeared on the U.K. television program The Old Grey Whistle Test during that tour – www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpKfyrqwR4M
Shortly after Kracker’s triumphant return to the America, the group parted ways with their personal management team as well as ABC Dunhill and Rolling Stones Records. The band felt they were not getting the proper support and promotion due to the combined geographical distribution arrangement between the two labels. And the affiliation with Jimmy Miller also deteriorated due to Miller’s health.
They came back to Chicago and sought the help of their good friend and musician John Poulos. Former drummer with The Buckinghams, Poulos had moved into the entertainment management field. Poulos acted as the group’s interim personal manager through those difficult times, and his efforts were influential in the group landing a new recording contract. Kracker packed Chicago clubs with their hot dance rhythms and sex appeal. And Driggs did some modeling work for a local clothing retailer, strengthening their visibility in the market.
In 1976, Kracker signed a management and recording contract with Dash Records, a division of TK Productions which at the time was the hottest “disco” label in the US. The group released their third and final album, Hot, which was a compilation of dance-oriented rock. Marketing the rock band by the disco-oriented label was a challenge, with the label’s choice for risqué cover art stirring controversy and rubbing some critics, as well as retailers, the wrong way.
In late 1977 as disco music took over most of the airwaves, and Kracker managerial disappointments continued, the life had been sucked out of their opportunity and Kracker crumbled.
Members lives after Kracker:
Carlo Driggs joined the disco oriented band Foxy in 1978. He co-wrote and performed in the band’s crossover hit “Get Off” (Dash Records), which made it to number one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart during the fall of that year and also peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and number 18 on the disco chart.
When the Disco craze fizzled, Driggs moved to Nevada and assumed the lead vocal role with Paul Revere and the Raiders until 2004. Shortly after Driggs returned to Florida and continued collaborating with Angulo in other projects until he unexpectedly suffered a fatal heart attack in 2017. Before his death, he released the quasi auto biographical book A Lead Singer’s Life by Carlo Driggs.
Chuck Francour headed to California where he worked as a singing waiter and doing sessions. That led to a deal in 1980 with EMI-America for his first solo album Under the Boulevard Lights. Disappointed with how the label handled things, Francour moved on. His second project was aimed to be released by MCA, but a label management change killed the deal. “In the following years, he wrote music for films and children’s television shows and played in the bands His Boy Elroy and The Loose Cannons. He eventually married, moved to Florida, and is still performing there today.
Victor Angulo returned to Miami to take a much-needed break from the music business. And in 2009 teamed up with Miami bassist and sound engineer Raul Del Valle to form the recording group Sugarcane Rush. An eclectic blend of international, funk, rock and Cuban rhythms. The group’s debut CD In My Island featured 12 original compositions some of which were conceived by Kracker members but were never put on tape. He continues to write, and perform live.
Carlos Garcia returned to Florida and went on to play with several notable groups before he retired and moved to Hawaii. A few years later he returned to Chicago where he passed away due to heart failure on November 24, 2019. Garcia will always be remembered for the unique muted base notes technique he developed inspiring the likes of Jaco Pastorius. Garcia was even heralded as “the world’s greatest bass player” by Pastorius, quoted in the biography The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius.
Art Casado maintained ties with Florida musicians and landed a tour with Robert Palmer. Soon after that, former Kracker lead singer, Carlo Driggs and Casado formed Driggs & The News, a show group that triggered a conditional deal with Warner Brothers Records. The group supported artists, such as Simple Minds and Thompson Twins, but after a heated managerial dispute, they disbanded. Casado now lives in the Atlanta area and is still a passionate composer, but only performs periodically.
Discography:
1972 La Familia (ABC Dunhill DXS-50134)
1973 Kracker Brand (ABC Dunhill DSX-50154)
1976 Hot (Dash Records 30003)