The Rhythm Makers

The Rhythm Makers were a Bronx-based funk and proto-disco band active in the mid-1970s, best known for their 1976 album *Soul On Your Side*. The group originally started as Sabu and the Survivors before settling on The Rhythm Makers, with core members including bassist Keith "Sabu" Crier, keyboardist Herb Lane, drummer Kenny Banks, and rhythm guitarist Rahiem Leblanc. Their sound mixed soul and funk with early disco elements, laying the groundwork for what would become GQ, a band that rose to wider fame shortly afterwards. Though The Rhythm Makers released only one album, their music has since been recognized for its tight grooves and soulful style, with some tracks sampled by hip-hop artists and still celebrated by funk aficionados.

Their standout album, *Soul On Your Side*, is considered a flawless example of proto-disco funk, capturing the vibrant Bronx sound of the era. The Rhythm Makers' legacy is closely linked to the later success of GQ, but their tight rhythms and soulful melodies maintain a distinct place in disco and funk history. Members like Rahiem Leblanc (aka Mr. Q) carried on performing even after the group’s commercial run ended in the early 1980s, keeping the spirit alive for fans of the genre.